Taste receptors in innate immunity

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Immunology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Taste receptors (TRs) traditionally identified on the tongue.
• TRs are now recognized in diverse extraoral tissues, including airway and gastrointestinal epithelia, pancreas, and brain.
• Functions of extraoral TRs are largely unknown, but airway TRs show potential in innate immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review taste receptor signaling, particularly G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for bitter, sweet, and savory tastes.
• To provide an overview of extraoral TR distribution and function.
• To discuss the role of TRs in airway innate immunity.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on taste receptor signaling pathways.
• Analysis of studies investigating TR expression and function in various tissues.
• Synthesis of evidence linking airway TRs to innate immune responses.

Main Results:

• Taste receptors, including GPCRs, mediate responses to bitter, sweet, and savory stimuli.
• Evidence suggests bitter and sweet TRs in the airway function as key components of innate immunity.
• Extraoral TRs are implicated in sensing environmental cues and initiating immune responses.

Conclusions:

• Extraoral taste receptors represent a significant, understudied area with implications for innate immunity.
• Understanding these receptors can reveal novel immune mechanisms and host-pathogen interactions.
• Future research holds potential for therapeutic targets in immune and infectious diseases.