A role for taste receptors in (neuro)endocrinology?

Abstract

The sense of taste is positioned at the forefront when it comes to the interaction of our body with foodborne chemicals. However, the role of our taste system, and in particular its associated taste receptors, is not limited to driving food preferences leading to ingestion or rejection before other organs take over responsibility for nutrient digestion, absorption and metabolic regulation. Taste sensory elements do much more. On the one hand, extra‐oral taste receptors from the brain to the gut continue to sense nutrients and noxious substances after ingestion and, on the other hand, the nutritional state feeds back on the taste system. This intricate regulatory network is orchestrated by endocrine factors that are secreted in response to taste receptor signalling and, in turn regulate the taste receptor cells themselves. The present review summarises current knowledge on the endocrine regulation of the taste perceptual system and the release of hunger/satiety regulating factors by gastrointestinal taste receptors. Furthermore, the regulation of blood glucose levels via the activation of pancreatic sweet taste receptors and subsequent insulin secretion, as well as the influence of bitter compounds on thyroid hormone release, is addressed. Finally, the central effects of tastants are discussed briefly.

Effects of psychological, sensory, and metabolic energy prime manipulation on the acute endocrine stress response in fasted women

“…Since noncaloric and caloric sweeteners activate T1R2/T1R3 receptors [9,10], processes that are triggered in response offer possible explanations of our findings. In line with this, T1R2/T1R3 has lately been discussed as modulator of neuroendocrine processes [9,33].…”

“…glucose, saccharose), or non-caloric sweeteners (e.g. aspartame, stevia) activate type 1 taste receptors (T1R2/T1R3) [8] in the oral cavity [9,10]. Although T1R2/T1R3 activation at sites outside of the mouth is not accompanied by sensation of sweet taste, it is related to physiological changes [11].…”

Structure-Function Analyses of Human Bitter Taste Receptors—Where Do We Stand?

“…It has to be noted though that the expression of bitter taste receptors is not limited to the oral cavity. The list of non-gustatory tissues that possess bitter taste receptors is long and the extraoral expression and function of taste receptors has been subject to several comprehensive reviews recently [ 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 ]. Therefore, it should just be mentioned here that the function of TAS2Rs is not limited to gustation, but extends to roles in innate immunity and respiratory function, regulation of digestive function and metabolism as well as male fertility.…”

Elevation of the Blood Glucose Level is Involved in an Increase in Expression of Sweet Taste Receptors in Taste Buds of Rat Circumvallate Papillae

“…Mono-and di-saccharides such as sucrose, glucose, fructose, etc., are macronutrients and induce sweet taste sensation as a preferable energy source by stimulating sweet taste receptors expressed by taste cells in taste buds of the tongue [1,2]. Sweet taste receptors consist of a heterodimer of T1R2 and T1R3 or a homodimer of T1R3, and are functionally expressed in a variety of organs such as the gut, pancreas, respiratory tract, brain, etc., in addition to the tongue [3]. For instance, in the gut, activation of T1R3 expressed by gut mucosa cells induces the release of hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 into the blood circulation, and up-regulates expression of the glucose transporter SGLT1 in the brush border membranes for efficient absorption of monosaccharides as an energy source [3].…”

“…Sweet taste receptors consist of a heterodimer of T1R2 and T1R3 or a homodimer of T1R3, and are functionally expressed in a variety of organs such as the gut, pancreas, respiratory tract, brain, etc., in addition to the tongue [3]. For instance, in the gut, activation of T1R3 expressed by gut mucosa cells induces the release of hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 into the blood circulation, and up-regulates expression of the glucose transporter SGLT1 in the brush border membranes for efficient absorption of monosaccharides as an energy source [3]. In the pancreas, sweet taste receptors play a role in sensing the blood glucose level to regulate insulin secretion from ß cells [4][5][6][7].…”