Since when does the lungs have taste receptors ?

We all know the lungs are an essential part of the respiration system. As for the tongue, we all know that we use our tongue to taste things. So why am I mentioning these two body parts in the blog? Well, in a recent article published by Science Daily, there were unexpected discovery suggests that the ability to taste isn’t limited to the mouth anymore. Researchers at the Maryland school of Medicine discovered that humans have bitter taste receptors in their lungs. The bitter taste receptors are the exact same kind located on the tongue. However, there are two differences that distinguish the lungs receptor’s from the tongue’s receptors. First, unlike the tongue’s receptors, the lung receptors are not bunched into taste buds. Secondly, they don’t communicate directly to the brain.

Flash back to The Accidental Mind and we see the tongue and brain are linked. “Those body parts that have fine tactile sensation, such as a hand, lips, and tongue, occupy a disproportionate amount of space in the primary somatosensory cortex”(Linden 85). When bitter compounds enter the mouth, it activates the taste receptors which then alerts the brain that they have detected a bitter compound and the brain quickly returns a message telling it to “reject” quickly. Click here to watch a video of how the brain and tounge are linked.

So, why are these new findings about taste receptors in the lungs important? Since the receptors for bitter tastes are found in the muscles of the lungs and airways, there are implications that it could help asthma patients.

“The researchers tested different bitter compounds on human and mouse airways, individual airway smooth muscle cells, and on mice with asthma. They found that these compounds all opened lung airways more profoundly than current drugs”(HealthDay News). At first, I thought that eating bitter foods would also help open airways in the lungs, but that’s not the case. According to Dr. Ligget’s research, “we think that the best drugs would be chemical modifications of bitter compounds, which would be aerosolized and then inhaled into the lungs with an inhaler" (HealthDay News).

Now, you are probably wondering why there are taste receptors in the lungs. Well, like the tongue’s taste receptors that reject bitter compounds. Bitter compounds are often toxic, and the body generally tries to keep them out, and in this case, the lungs don’t want bitter compounds entering it.

According to Science Daily, “There are thousands of compounds that activate the body's bitter taste receptors but are not toxic in appropriate doses. Many are synthetic agents, developed for different purposes, and others come from natural origins, such as certain vegetables, flowers, berries and trees” (Science Daily). Until the right bitter compounds are found, it may lead to the development of the first new class of asthma inhalers in decades. Though this is quite a long time, it will definitely be a worthwhile pursuit.

Here are my sources....

"Bitter Taste Receptors Found in Lungs May Aid Asthma Patients." Healthday. Healthday, 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 26 Oct. 2010. .

Linden, David J. The Accidental Mind. Cambridge, MA: Belknap of Harvard UP, 2007. Print.

University of Maryland Medical Center. "Discovery of Taste Receptors in the Lungs Could Help People With Asthma Breathe Easier." ScienceDaily 25 October 2010. 27 October 2010 /releases/2010/10/101024144132.htm>.