Work

Motile Cilia of Human Airway Epithelia Are Chemosensory

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: Beat It Primary cilia are specialized organelles that serve important sensory functions in many different tissues and cells, and defects in their structure and function underlie a variety of genetic diseases. In contrast to primary cilia, motile cilia serve a mechanical function. For example, the cilia on airway epithelia remove inhaled material from the lung. Shah et al. (p. 1131 , published online 23 July; see the cover; see the Perspective by Kinnamon and Reynolds ) now show that these classic motile cilia are also chemosensory. The motile cilia on airway epithelia contain bitter-taste receptors and their associated signaling machinery. Moreover, application of bitter substances triggers an elevation of intracellular Ca 2+ levels and increases cilia beat frequency. Thus, in airway epithelia, bitter-taste receptors may be able to detect noxious substances entering the airways and initiate an autonomous defensive mechanism designed to accelerate elimination of the offending compound.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.1173869

Authors: Alok S. Shah, Yehuda Ben-Shahar, Thomas O. Moninger, Joel N. Kline, Michael J. Welsh

Institutions: University of Iowa, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Language: English

Topic: Genetic and Kidney Cyst Diseases

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases