Motile Cilia of Human Airway Epithelia Are Chemosensory

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 325; no. 5944; pp. 1131 - 1134
• Main Authors: Shah, Alok S, Ben-Shahar, Yehuda, Moninger, Thomas O, Kline, Joel N, Welsh, Michael J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 28.08.2009
• Subjects: Air breathing; Beat frequencies; Bicyclic Monoterpenes; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchi - cytology; Calcium - metabolism; Cells; Cells, Cultured; Cellular receptors; Cilia; Cilia - metabolism; Cilia - physiology; Enteroendocrine cells; Epithelial cells; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gustatory perception; Humans; Lungs; Monoterpenes - metabolism; Monoterpenes - pharmacology; Movement; Noxae; Phospholipase C beta - metabolism; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - metabolism; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - pharmacology; Receptors; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - metabolism; Respiratory Mucosa - cytology; Respiratory Mucosa - metabolism; Respiratory system: anatomy, metabolism, gas exchange, ventilatory mechanics, respiratory hemodynamics; Signal Transduction; Taste; Taste cells; Trachea - cytology; Transducin - metabolism; Vertebrates: respiratory system; Human; Autonomous system; Respiratory tract; Calcium; Respiratory epithelium; Bitter taste; Defense mechanism; Intracellular; Sensory receptor; Respiratory system; Bitter compound; Cilia
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1173869

Cilia are microscopic projections that extend from eukaryotic cells. There are two general types of cilia; primary cilia serve as sensory organelles, whereas motile cilia exert mechanical force. The motile cilia emerging from human airway epithelial cells propel harmful inhaled material out of the lung. We found that these cells express sensory bitter taste receptors, which localized on motile cilia. Bitter compounds increased the intracellular calcium ion concentration and stimulated ciliary beat frequency. Thus, airway epithelia contain a cell-autonomous system in which motile cilia both sense noxious substances entering airways and initiate a defensive mechanical mechanism to eliminate the offending compound. Hence, like primary cilia, classical motile cilia also contain sensors to detect the external environment.