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Bitter treats for better breathing

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A Correspondence to this article was published on 07 July 2011

A new study in mice and human tissue shows that activation of bitter taste receptors in the airways relaxes airway smooth muscle, resulting in bronchodilation (pages 1299–1304). Agonists of these receptors seem to be better than current β2-adrenergic bronchodilators in a mouse asthma model, suggesting a new way to ease breathing during asthma.

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Figure 1: Bitter tastants induce bronchodilation in a mouse model of asthma.

Marina Corral

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Michael J. Sanderson is in the Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA,

    Michael J Sanderson

  2. J. Mark Madison is in the Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.,

    J Mark Madison

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  1. Michael J Sanderson
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  2. J Mark Madison
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Correspondence to J Mark Madison.

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Sanderson, M., Madison, J. Bitter treats for better breathing. Nat Med 16, 1190–1191 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1110-1190

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