Etiopathogenesis of reproductive tract infections and the emerging role of bitter taste receptors: A scoping review

Bitter taste receptors (TAS2RS) expression is not restricted to the oral cavity and the presence of these receptors in the male reproductive system and sperm provides insights into their possible role in human reproduction. To elucidate the potential role of TAS2Rs in the female reproductive system, we investigated the expression and localization of bitter taste receptors and the components of signal transduction cascade involved in the pathway of taste receptors in somatic follicular cells obtained from women undergoing assisted reproductive techniques. We found that TAS2R genes are expressed in both cumulus (CCs) and granulosa (GCs) cells, with TAS2R14 being the most highly expressed bitter receptor subtype. Interestingly, a slight increase in the expression of TAS2R14 and TAS2R43 was shown in both GCs and CCs in young women (p < 0.05), while a negative correlation may be established between the number of oocytes collected at the pickup and the expression of TAS2R43. Regarding α-gustducin and α-transducin, two Gα subunits expressed in the taste buds on the tongue, we provide evidence for their expression in CCs and GCs, with α-gustducin showing two additional isoforms in GCs. Finally, we shed light on the possible downstream transduction pathway initiated by taste receptor activation in the female reproductive system. Our study, showing for the first time the expression of taste receptors in the somatic ovarian follicle cells, significantly extends the current knowledge of the biological role of TAS2Rs for human female fertility.

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Role of Bitter Taste Receptors in Regulating Gastric Accommodation in Guinea Pigs

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics ◽

10.1124/jpet.118.256008 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 369 (3) ◽

pp. 466-472 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yumi Harada ◽

Junichi Koseki ◽

Hitomi Sekine ◽

Naoki Fujitsuka ◽

Hiroyuki Kobayashi

Keyword(s):

Guinea Pigs ◽

Bitter Taste ◽

Taste Receptors ◽

Gastric Accommodation ◽

Bitter Taste Receptors

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Functional impact of allelic variations/haplotypes of TNF-α on reproductive tract infections in Indian women

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-79963-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Vineeta Sharma ◽

Subash Chandra Sonkar ◽

Pallavi Singhal ◽

Anoop Kumar ◽

Rakesh Kumar Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Role ◽

Reproductive Tract ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Reproductive Tract Infections ◽

Confounding Bias ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Major Player ◽

Tract Infections ◽

Allelic Variations

AbstractThe aim of the present study is to investigate the functional role of TNF-α single-nucleotide polymorphisms/haplotypes in an association with reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in symptomatic and asymptomatic women. A total of 850 consecutive subjects consisting of 400 cases and 450 healthy controls, were screened for RTIs, along with their risk factors and associated symptoms. The propensity score matching was performed to reduce the confounding bias arise owing to covariates and to balance the data between two groups. A total of 211 pairs (1:1) have been created. Genotyping of rs1800629 (-308) and rs361525 (-238) SNPs of TNF-α was done by PCR–RFLP followed by sequencing. The functional implication of TNF-α SNPs in an association with RTIs was also checked by using ELISA. The frequency of -238A allele and -308A allele was found to be twofold (P < 0.0001) and threefold (P < 0.0001) higher in the presence of RTIs. AA haplotype emerged as a major player in an association with RTIs and elevated TNF-α expression. The present study revealed the functional role of rs1800629 (-308) and rs361525 (-238) of TNF-α in an association with RTIs. This information may be used to establish biomarkers for an inflammatory response during the persistence of RTIs.

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Sa1833 Emerging Role of Gastrointestinal Bitter Taste Receptors in Treating Type 2 Diabetes

Gastroenterology ◽

10.1016/s0016-5085(15)31148-3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 148 (4) ◽

pp. S-343-S-344

Author(s):

Ravinder Abrol ◽

Susan Morvaridi ◽

Hung Pham ◽

Shuping S. Wu ◽

Hongxiang Hui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Bitter Taste ◽

Taste Receptors ◽

Bitter Taste Receptors

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The Role of Bitter Taste Receptors in Cancer: A Systematic Review

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13235891 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (23) ◽

pp. 5891

Author(s):

Sofie Zehentner ◽

Agnes T. Reiner ◽

Christoph Grimm ◽

Veronika Somoza

Keyword(s):

Bitter Taste ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Systematic Research ◽

Taste Receptors ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Bitter Taste Receptors

Background: Since it is known that bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) are expressed and functionally active in various extra-oral cells, their genetic variability and functional response initiated by their activation have become of broader interest, including in the context of cancer. Methods: A systematic research was performed in PubMed and Google Scholar to identify relevant publications concerning the role of TAS2Rs in cancer. Results: While the findings on variations of TAS2R genotypes and phenotypes and their association to the risk of developing cancer are still inconclusive, gene expression analyses revealed that TAS2Rs are expressed and some of them are predominately downregulated in cancerous compared to non-cancerous cell lines and tissue samples. Additionally, receptor-specific, agonist-mediated activation induced various anti-cancer effects, such as decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as increased apoptosis. Furthermore, the overexpression of TAS2Rs resulted in a decreased tumour incidence in an in vivo study and TAS2R activation could even enhance the therapeutic effect of chemotherapeutics in vitro. Finally, higher expression levels of TAS2Rs in primary cancerous cells and tissues were associated with an improved prognosis in humans. Conclusion: Since current evidence demonstrates a functional role of TAS2Rs in carcinogenesis, further studies should exploit their potential as (co-)targets of chemotherapeutics.

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Bitter Taste Receptors as Regulators of Abdominal Muscles Contraction

Physiological Research ◽

10.33549/physiolres.934156 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 991-995

Author(s):

P. Zagorchev ◽

G.V. Petkov ◽

H.S. Gagov

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscles ◽

Bitter Taste ◽

Specific Inhibitor ◽

Electrical Field Stimulation ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Abdominal Muscles ◽

Taste Receptors ◽

Bitter Taste Receptors

Bitter taste receptors (TAS2R) are expressed in many non-sensor tissues including skeletal muscles but their function remains unexplored. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of TAS2R in rat abdominal skeletal muscles contractions using denatonium, a TAS2R agonist. Low concentration of denatonium (0.01 mmol/l) caused a significant decrease of amplitudes of the electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced contractions in abdominal skeletal muscles preparations in vitro. This inhibitory effect was significantly reduced when the preparations were pre-incubated with gentamicin (0.02 mmol/l) used as a non-specific inhibitor of IP3 formation or with BaCl(2) (0.03 mmol/l) applied to block the inward-rectifier potassium current. All experiments were performed in the presence of pipecuronium in order to block the nerve stimulation of the contractions. The data obtained suggest that denatonium decreases the force of rat abdominal muscles contractions mainly via activation of TAS2R, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate and its downstream signal metabolites.

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