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Updated: Nov 15, 2025

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test
07:10

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test

Published on: August 17, 2018

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Bitter Taste Receptor as a Therapeutic Target in Orthopaedic Disorders

Weyland Cheng1,2, Manye Yao1, Fangna Liu1

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.

Drug Design, Development and Therapy
|March 8, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) are found in bone cells, influencing inflammation and bone remodeling. Targeting T2Rs may offer new treatments for bone disorders and promote bone growth.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Non-gustatory, extraoral bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) are G-protein coupled receptors found throughout the body.
  • T2Rs are expressed in bone cells, including osteoclasts and osteocytes.
  • Osteoclasts utilize the T2R38 isoform to detect bacterial quorum-sensing molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of T2Rs in bone cells.
  • To explore the potential of T2R activation in treating bone inflammation and orthopaedic disorders.
  • To examine T2R targeting for promoting bone anabolism.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on T2R expression and function in bone cells.
  • Analysis of the signaling pathways involved in T2R activation (e.g., phospholipase C/inositol triphosphate pathway).
  • Examination of the effects of intracellular calcium release on bone cell activity.

Main Results:

  • T2R activation in immune cells induces anti-inflammatory and anti-pathogenic effects.
  • T2R activation in bone cells leads to intracellular calcium release, potentially influencing bone formation and resorption.
  • Functional T2Rs are present in osteoclasts and osteocytes, suggesting a role in bone homeostasis.

Conclusions:

  • T2R expression in bone cells presents a novel therapeutic target.
  • Targeting T2Rs could offer new strategies for managing bone inflammation and orthopaedic conditions.
  • Further research into T2R activation may unlock potential for anabolic bone therapies.
Keywords:
TAS2Rbone inflammationcalcium signalingdrug targetosteoblasts

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