title: Chemosensors in the nose: guardians of the airways.
abstract: The G-protein-coupled receptor molecules and downstream effectors that are used by taste buds to detect sweet, bitter, and savory tastes are also utilized by chemoresponsive cells of the airways to detect irritants. Here, we describe the different cell types in the airways that utilize taste-receptor signaling to trigger protective epithelial and neural responses to potentially dangerous toxins and bacterial infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Rocky Mountain Taste & Smell Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tizzano
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Finger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009666:Nose / Q000502:physiology*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled