Department of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Ectopic Olfactory and Taste Receptors, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology for BK21 PLUS, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, Gut Peptide Research Lab, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2019 Feb;18(2):116-138. doi: 10.1038/s41573-018-0002-3.
Olfactory and taste receptors are expressed primarily in the nasal olfactory epithelium and gustatory taste bud cells, where they transmit real-time sensory signals to the brain. However, they are also expressed in multiple extra-nasal and extra-oral tissues, being implicated in diverse biological processes including sperm chemotaxis, muscle regeneration, bronchoconstriction and bronchodilatation, inflammation, appetite regulation and energy metabolism. Elucidation of the physiological roles of these ectopic receptors is revealing potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications in conditions including wounds, hair loss, asthma, obesity and cancers. This Review outlines current understanding of the diverse functions of ectopic olfactory and taste receptors and assesses their potential to be therapeutically exploited.
嗅觉和味觉受体主要表达在鼻内嗅上皮和味觉味蕾细胞中，它们将实时的感觉信号传递到大脑。然而，它们也在多个鼻外和口外组织中表达，参与包括精子趋化、肌肉再生、支气管收缩和支气管扩张、炎症、食欲调节和能量代谢在内的多种生物学过程。这些异位受体的生理作用的阐明揭示了它们在包括伤口、脱发、哮喘、肥胖和癌症在内的多种疾病中的潜在治疗和诊断应用。本综述概述了异位嗅觉和味觉受体的多种功能的现有认识，并评估了它们在治疗上被利用的潜力。
