Institute for Innovation, Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Japan.
Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2012 Feb;19(1):19-25. doi: 10.1097/MED.0b013e32834ec7f8.
The purpose of this review is to discuss the presence and possible roles of peripheral taste/nutrient sensors, particularly taste receptors.
Recent studies have demonstrated that taste signaling molecules are distributed not only in the gustatory epithelium, but also in other tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract, airways, testes and brain. Taste signaling mechanisms in the gastrointestinal tract were reported to participate in detecting sweet, umami and bitter compounds. Several research groups have suggested that tastant/nutrient detection by other systems contributes to the behavioral responses to food intake.
Taste-like cells expressing taste signaling components are distributed in multiple tissues. Investigation of their potential roles in chemosensing has just begun. Researchers have identified at least two chemosensory pathways in the gastrointestinal tract for detecting tastants/nutrients. One is the taste receptor signaling pathway and the other is the currently unknown nutrient-sensing pathway that elicits postingestive effects. The former system utilizes a mechanism similar to taste sensing in the oral cavity. By understanding how tastants/nutrients are sensed and regulated through both systems, we may be able to more effectively control food intake in the future.
本文旨在讨论外周味觉/营养传感器（特别是味觉受体）的存在和可能作用。
近期研究表明，味觉信号分子不仅存在于味觉上皮中，还分布于胃肠道、气道、睾丸和大脑等其他组织中。有研究报道称，胃肠道中的味觉信号机制参与了对甜味、鲜味和苦味化合物的检测。一些研究小组提出，其他系统对味觉物质/营养物质的检测有助于对食物摄入的行为反应。
表达味觉信号成分的类味觉细胞分布于多种组织中。目前，对于它们在化学感应中的潜在作用的研究才刚刚开始。研究人员已经在胃肠道中确定了至少两种用于检测味觉物质/营养物质的化学感应途径。一种是味觉受体信号通路，另一种是目前未知的、能引发摄食后效应的营养感应通路。前者系统利用的机制类似于口腔中的味觉感应。通过了解味觉物质/营养物质如何通过这两个系统被感知和调节，我们或许能够在未来更有效地控制食物摄入。
