The bitter taste of infection
Alice Prince
Alice Prince
Published October 8, 2012
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2012;122(11):3847-3849. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI66182.
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Commentary

The bitter taste of infection

Abstract

The human innate immune response to pathogens is complex, and it has been difficult to establish the contribution of epithelial signaling in the prevention of upper respiratory tract infection. The prevalence of chronic sinusitis in the absence of systemic immune defects indicates that there may be local defects in innate immunity associated with such mucosal infections. In this issue of the JCI, Cohen and colleagues investigate the role of the bitter taste receptors in airway epithelial cells, and find that these are critical to sensing the presence of invading pathogens.

Authors

Alice Prince

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Figure 1

Bitter taste receptors in innate immune defense.

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Bitter taste receptors in innate immune defense. AHLs produced by P. aer...
AHLs produced by P. aeruginosa are sensed by T2R38, activating Ca2+ signaling, leading to increased ciliary beat frequency, NO production, and bacterial killing. This process prevents colonization of the airway. Individuals harboring the inactive AVI allele are at greater risk of infection.