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Taste Receptors beyond Taste Buds

Su Young Ki1, Yong Taek Jeong1,2

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|September 9, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Ectopic taste receptors, found outside the mouth in organs like the lungs, have physiological functions beyond taste. This review categorizes their expression in tuft cells and other cell types.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Taste receptors (TRCs) are traditionally known for taste perception in the mouth.
  • Decades of research confirm "ectopic" TRC expression in non-gustatory organs.
  • Recent studies reveal physiological roles for these ectopic TRCs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize current knowledge on ectopic taste receptors in various organs.
  • To categorize the expression patterns of ectopic taste receptors.
  • To highlight the role of tuft cells as TRC-like cells.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on ectopic taste receptors.
  • Focus on studies investigating taste receptor expression in non-gustatory tissues.
  • Analysis of the cellular localization and function of ectopic taste receptors.

Main Results:

  • Ectopic taste receptors are expressed in multiple organs beyond the oral cavity.
  • Tuft cells are identified as TRC-like cells expressing taste receptors.
  • Ectopic taste receptors are found in two main categories: TRC-like cells and other cell types.

Conclusions:

  • Ectopic taste receptors have diverse physiological functions in various organs.
  • Understanding ectopic taste receptor expression, particularly in tuft cells, is crucial.
  • This highlights a broader role for taste signaling pathways in the body.
Keywords:
G protein-coupled receptorsectopic expressiontastetaste receptorstuft cells

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