Gingival solitary chemosensory cells are immune sentinels for periodontitis

Abstract

Solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs) expressing taste receptors reside in mucosal epithelia including the gingiva. Here the authors show that ablation of taste-sensing by SSCs leads to outgrowth of pathogenic oral bacteria and periodontitis, whereas bitter taste receptor stimulation promotes antimicrobial peptide production and ameliorates periodontitis.