To Detect and Reject, Parallel Roles for Taste and Immunity

Purpose of Review From single cells to entire organisms, biological entities are in constant communication with their surroundings, deciding what to 'allow' in, and what to reject. In very different ways, the immune and taste systems both fulfill this function, with growing evidence suggesting a relationship between the two, through shared signaling pathways, receptors, and feedback loops. The purpose of this review was to explore recent reports on taste and immunity in model animals and in humans to explore our understanding of the interplay between these systems. Recent Findings Acute infections in the upper airway, as with SARS-CoV-2, are associated with a proinflammatory state, and blunted taste perception. Further, recent findings highlight taste receptors working as immune sentinels throughout the body. Work in humans and mice also points to inflammation from obesity impacting taste, altering taste bud abundance and composition. There is accumulating evidence that taste cells, and particularly their receptors, play a role in airway and gut immunity, responsive to invading organisms. Inflammation itself may further act on taste buds and other taste receptor expressing cells throughout the body as a form of homeostatic control.

Automated summary

From single cells to entire organisms, biological entities are constantly communicating with their surroundings, deciding what to allow in and what to reject. The immune system and taste system both play important roles in integrating external information, and there is a close relationship between the two. Recent research has shown that acute infections in the upper airway, like SARS-CoV-2, can lead to inflammation and reduced taste perception, while taste receptors function as immune sentinels throughout the body. Additionally, inflammation from obesity can impact taste and alter taste bud abundance and composition.