Involvement of Chemosensory System on Intestinal Epithelial Function

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08182
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General physiology
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (2017); University of Shizuoka (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: Kuwahara Atsukazu 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 特任教授 (60142890)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: chemosensory cell / enteroendocrine cell / epithelial ion transport / enteric nervous ssytem / brain-gut axis

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The intestinal lumen is open to the external environment and GI tract is one-way tube in which food materials are progressively converted into molecular end products. Recently, the taste receptors, along with several taste signal transduction molecules, have been demonstrated to be expressed in many extraoral location. In the GI tract, nutrients and microbial metabolites are continuously sensed by chemosensory receptors which are analog of taste receptors in the tongue. Chemosensory receptor expressing cells in the GI tract is belonging to a part of diffuse chemosensory system (DCS). In the GI tract, DCS consists of enteroendocrine and related cells. These cells initiate various important local and remote reflexes. Despite obvious physiological and clinical importance, not enough information is available regarding the function of DCS in the GI tract. In this research project, we have examined the contribution of DCS on intestinal epithelial ion transport.

Free Research Field

Gastrointestinal Physiology