Ever recoiled at the bitterness of certain foods? That reaction helps prevent you from ingesting harmful substances. But did you know your skin has the same ability?
New research from Okayama University of Science reveals that type-2 taste receptors (TAS2Rs) in skin cells serve a protective function. They detect and expel harmful compounds, much like their counterparts on the tongue.
Originally thought to exist only in the mouth, TAS2Rs are actually found throughout the body. They line the stomach, colon, and upper airways—and are now known to be active in skin cells called keratinocytes.
A 2015 study first identified their presence in human skin, but their exact function remained unclear. The latest findings shed light on their role in cellular defense.
HOW SKIN CELLS EXPEL TOXINS
Researchers tested lab-grown human keratinocytes. They exposed them to phenylthiocarbamide (PTC). PTC is a bitter compound often used in genetic studies of taste.
Once the receptors detected PTC, they triggered the production of ABC transporters—proteins that help push toxins out of cells. To confirm this mechanism, scientists introduced a visible tracer dye, which the ABC transporters efficiently expelled. When they blocked the transporters with verapamil, the dye remained trapped inside.
A NATURAL DEFENSE AGAINST HARM
The findings suggest that TAS2Rs help skin cells survive exposure to harmful substances. In another experiment, cells were exposed to toxic levels of antihistamine. Their survival rates improved when their bitter receptors were activated first.
The study’s authors concluded that activating TAS2Rs increases ABC transporter production, allowing cells to expel toxic compounds and prevent damage.
FUTURE APPLICATIONS: CAN BITTER ACTIVATORS PROTECT SKIN?
The role of bitter taste in detecting toxins remains debated. Many toxic substances lack bitterness. Many common foods are bitter. The study confirms its protective effect in skin cells.
Researchers suggest that safe TAS2R activators could one day be used to enhance toxin removal from human skin. This discovery could lead to new treatments for chemical exposure or skincare innovations that help protect against environmental pollutants.
Your skin may not have taste buds. It certainly knows how to recognize and reject bitterness when it matters most.
