Non-neural expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry genes in the olfactory epithelium suggests mechanisms underlying anosmia in COVID-19 patients

David Brann; Tatsuya Tsukahara; Caleb Weinreb; Darren W. Logan; Sandeep Robert Datta

The olfactory epithelium was surgically removed, and the dorsal, sensory portion was dissected and dissociated, as previously described (27) . For WOM experiments, dissociated cells were subjected to fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) using propidium iodide to identify and select against dead or dying cells; 100,000 cells/sample were collected in 10% FBS. For the HBC lineage tracing experiments Krt5-CreER; Rosa26YFP/YFP mice were injected once with tamoxifen (0.25 mg tamoxifen/g body weight) at P21-23 days of age and sacrificed at 24 hours, 48 hours, 96 hours, 7 days and 14 days post-injury, as previously described (27, 42) . For each experimental time point, YFP+ cells were isolated by FACS based on YFP expression and negative for propidium iodide, a vital dye.