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AERD subjects demonstrated increased sensitivity to DB ( I p i < 0.01) and sucrose ( I p i < 0.01) compared with CRSsNP, while CRSsNP subjects demonstrated a reduced sensitivity to DB ( I p i < 0.05) and sucrose ( I p i < 0.05) compared with controls (Figure 1). It was anticipated that in AERD, unique genetic polymorphisms in DB-responsive T2Rs may result in upregulation of the receptors and resulting type-2 inflammation. Keywords: aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease; bitter; chronic rhinosinusitis; gene; open array; sensory; taste EN aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease bitter chronic rhinosinusitis gene open array sensory taste 269 272 4 02/21/23 20230301 NES 230301 INTRODUCTION Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), a disease of long-standing sinonasal inflammation, is divided into two phenotypes: CRS with and without nasal polyposis (CRSwNP, CRSsNP). [Extracted from the article]

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory disease involving the mucosa and submucosa of the rectum and colon. Lindera aggregate (Sims) Kosterm is a traditional Chinese herb used for thousands of years in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Previously, we have demonstrated that the extracts of Lindera aggregate have good anti-UC effects, but their pharmacodynamic active components have not been fully clarified. Therefore, we explored the therapeutic effect of Linderanine C (LDC), a characteristic component of Lindera aggregata , on UC and its mechanism in this study. Firstly, we found that LDC could significantly reduce the disease activity index of UC and improve shortened colon and pathological changes in vivo. Colon tissue transcriptomics suggested that the anti-UC effect of LDC might be related to its anti-inflammatory activity. Cellular experiments revealed that LDC could inhibit the expression of the M1 cell marker CD86 in RAW264.7 cells, reduce the production of inflammatory mediators such as IL-6 and TNF-α, and have good anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. Cellular transcriptomics reveal the potential involvement of the MAPK signaling pathway in the anti-inflammatory effect of LDC. The co-culture assay confirmed that LDC could significantly reduce inflammation-mediated intestinal epithelial cell injury. In conclusion, LDC was able to inhibit macrophage M1 polarization and reduce inflammatory mediator production by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway, effectively improving UC. [Display omitted] • LDC effectively improves ulcerative colitis induced by DSS. • LDC regulates inflammation by inhibiting the MAPK pathway. • LDC protects intestinal epithelial cells by its anti-inflammatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) are among the most challenging rhinologic patients to treat. AERD has a complex inflammatory milieu of lipid mediators and cytokines. In this study we evaluated cytokine differences in the complex AERD environment at the mucus, epithelial, and tissue levels. Methods: Samples were acquired at the time of sinus surgery from 21 patients (seven steroid‐treated, 14 untreated) with aspirin challenge‐confirmed AERD. Three methods (sponge adsorption, epithelial brushing, tissue biopsy) were used to acquire samples from the respective sinus sampling sites (mucus, polyp epithelium, and full‐thickness polyp) of each patient. We measured and compared 16 cytokine concentrations in AERD patients with or without prednisone treatment using the Luminex platform. Results: In most sampling sites, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐13, IL‐33, CCL20, and TNF‐α were detected at higher concentrations than IFN‐γ, IL‐1β, IL‐17A, IL‐4, IL‐22, IL‐17E/IL25, and GM‐CSF. Each sampling site had a different pattern of cytokine levels, and except for IL‐5 and IL‐25 there was no correlation among sampling methods for each cytokine tested. The most notable and significant decreases in cytokines from those treated with prednisone were observed in the epithelium for IL‐5, IL‐10, IL‐33, and IFN‐γ. Conclusions: In the epithelial samples, type 2‐associated cytokines IL‐5 and IL‐33, the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10, and IFN‐γ were lower in AERD patients treated with prednisone. This work serves as a basis to assess therapeutic‐induced mucosal cytokine responses in AERD and indicates that the site of cytokine measurement is an important consideration when assessing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bitter and sweet taste receptors are present in the human upper airway, where they have roles in innate immunity. Previous studies have shown that 1 of the 25 bitter receptors, TAS2R38, responds to specific bacterial signaling molecules and evokes 1 type of a defense response in the upper airway, whereas ligands of sweet receptors suppress other types of defense responses. Methods: We examined whether other bitter taste receptors might also be involved in innate immunity by using sensory responses to bitter compounds that are not ligands of TAS2R38 (quinine and denatonium benzoate) to assess the sensitivity of other bitter receptors in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. CRS patients with (n = 426) and without (n = 226) nasal polyps and controls (n = 356) rated the intensity of quinine, denatonium benzoate, phenylthiocarbamide (PTC; a ligand for TAS2R38), sucrose, and salt. Results: CRS patients rated the bitter compounds denatonium benzoate and quinine as less intense and sucrose as more intense than did controls (false discovery rate [FDR] <0.05) and CRS patients and controls did not differ in their ratings of salt (FDR >0.05). PTC bitter taste intensity differed between patient and control groups but were less marked than those previously reported. Though differences were statistically significant, overall effect sizes were small. Conclusion: CRS patients report bitter stimuli as less intense but sweet stimuli as more intense than do control subjects. We speculate that taste responses may reflect the competence of sinonasal innate immunity mediated by taste receptor function, and thus a taste test may have potential for clinical utility in CRS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have previously used crosses between C57BL/6ByJ (B6) and 129P3/J (129) inbred strains to map a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on mouse chromosome (Chr) 4 that affects behavioral and neural responses to sucrose. We have named it the sucrose consumption QTL 2 (Scon2), and shown that it corresponds to the Tas1r3 gene, which encodes a sweet taste receptor subunit TAS1R3. To discover other sucrose consumption QTLs, we have intercrossed B6 inbred and 129.B6-Tas1r3 congenic mice to produce F2 hybrids, in which Scon2 (Tas1r3) does not segregate, and hence does not contribute to phenotypical variation. Chromosome mapping using this F2 intercross identified two main-effect QTLs, Scon3 (Chr9) and Scon10 (Chr14), and an epistatically interacting QTL pair Scon3 (Chr9)–Scon4 (Chr1). Using serial backcrosses, congenic and consomic strains, we conducted high-resolution mapping of Scon3 and Scon4 and analyzed their epistatic interactions. We used mice with different Scon3 or Scon4 genotypes to understand whether these two QTLs influence sucrose intake via gustatory or postoral mechanisms. These studies found no evidence for involvement of the taste mechanisms, but suggested involvement of energy metabolism. Mice with the B6 Scon4 genotype drank less sucrose in two-bottle tests, and also had a higher respiratory exchange ratio and lower energy expenditure under basal conditions (when they had only chow and water available). Our results provide evidence that Scon3 and Scon4 influence mouse-to-mouse variation in sucrose intake and that both likely act through a common postoral mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mice of the C57BL/6ByJ (B6) strain have higher consumption of sucrose, and stronger peripheral neural responses to it, than do mice of the 129P3/J (129) strain. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for this strain difference and to evaluate the contribution of peripheral taste responsiveness to individual differences in sucrose intake, we produced an intercross (F2) of 627 mice, measured their sucrose consumption in two-bottle choice tests, recorded the electrophysiological activity of the chorda tympani nerve elicited by sucrose in a subset of F2 mice, and genotyped the mice with DNA markers distributed in every mouse chromosome. We confirmed a sucrose consumption QTL (Scon2, or Sac) on mouse chromosome (Chr) 4, harboring the Tas1r3 gene, which encodes the sweet taste receptor subunit TAS1R3 and affects both behavioral and neural responses to sucrose. For sucrose consumption, we also detected five new main-effect QTLs, Scon6 (Chr2), Scon7 (Chr5), Scon8 (Chr8), Scon3 (Chr9), and Scon9 (Chr15), and an epistatically interacting QTL pair Scon4 (Chr1) and Scon3 (Chr9). No additional QTLs for the taste nerve responses to sucrose were detected besides Scon2 (Tas1r3) on Chr4. Identification of the causal genes and variants for these sucrose consumption QTLs may point to novel mechanisms beyond peripheral taste sensitivity that could be harnessed to control obesity and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To learn more about the mechanisms of human dietary fat perception, we asked 398 human twins to rate the fattiness and how much they liked 6 types of potato chips that differed in triglyceride content (2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 15% corn oil); reliability estimates were obtained from a subset (n = 50) who did the task twice. Some chips also had a saturated long-chain fatty acid (FA; hexadecanoic acid, 16:0) added (0.2%) to evaluate its effect on fattiness and liking. We computed the heritability of these measures and conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify regions of the genome that co-segregate with fattiness and liking. Perceived fattiness of and liking for the potato chips were reliable (r = 0.31–0.62, P < 0.05) and heritable (up to h 2 = 0.29, P < 0.001, for liking). Adding hexadecanoic acid to the potato chips significantly increased ratings of fattiness but decreased liking. Twins with the G allele of rs263429 near GATA3-AS1 or the G allele of rs8103990 within ZNF729 reported more liking for potato chips than did twins with the other allele (multivariate GWAS, P < 1 × 10–5), with results reaching genome-wide suggestive but not significance criteria. Person-to-person variation in the perception and liking of dietary fat was 1) negatively affected by the addition of a saturated FA and 2) related to inborn genetic variants. These data suggest that liking for dietary fat is not due solely to FA content and highlight new candidate genes and proteins within this sensory pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TAS2R38 is a human bitter receptor gene with a common but inactive allele; people homozygous for the inactive form cannot perceive low concentrations of certain bitter compounds. The frequency of the inactive and active forms of this receptor is nearly equal in many human populations, and heterozygotes with 1 copy of the active form and 1 copy of the inactive form have the most common diplotype. However, even though they have the same genotype, heterozygotes differ markedly in their perception of bitterness, perhaps in part because of differences in TAS2R38 mRNA expression. Other tissues express this receptor too, including the nasal sinuses, where it contributes to pathogen defense. We, therefore, wondered whether heterozygous people had a similar wide range of TAS2R38 mRNA in sinonasal tissue and whether those with higher TAS2R38 mRNA expression in taste tissue were similarly high expressers in nasal tissue. To that end, we measured gene expression by quantitative PCR in taste and sinonasal tissue and found that expression abundance in one tissue was not related to the other. We confirmed the independence of expression in other tissue pairs expressing TAS2R38 mRNA, such as pancreas and small intestine, using autopsy data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression project (although people with high expression of TAS2R38 mRNA in colon also tended to have higher expression in the small intestine). Thus, taste tissue TAS2R38 mRNA expression among heterozygotes is unlikely to predict expression in other tissues, perhaps reflecting tissue-dependent function, and hence regulation, of this protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To fine map a mouse QTL for lean body mass (Burly1), we used information from intercross, backcross, consomic, and congenic mice derived from the C57BL/6ByJ (host) and 129P3/J (donor) strains. The results from these mapping populations were concordant and showed that Burly1 is located between 151.9 and 152.7 Mb (rs33197365 to rs3700604) on mouse chromosome 2. The congenic region harboring Burly1 contains 26 protein-coding genes, 11 noncoding RNA elements (e.g., lncRNA), and 4 pseudogenes, with 1949 predicted functional variants. Of the protein-coding genes, 7 have missense variants, including genes that may contribute to lean body weight, such as Angpt41, Slc52c3, and Rem1. Lean body mass was increased by the B6-derived variant relative to the 129-derived allele. Burly1 influenced lean body weight at all ages but not food intake or locomotor activity. However, congenic mice with the B6 allele produced more heat per kilogram of lean body weight than did controls, pointing to a genotype effect on lean mass metabolism. These results show the value of integrating information from several mapping populations to refine the map location of body composition QTLs and to identify a short list of candidate genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An average mouse in midlife weighs between 25 and 30 g, with about a gram of tissue in the largest adipose depot (gonadal), and the weight of this depot differs between inbred strains. Specifically, C57BL/6ByJ mice have heavier gonadal depots on average than do 129P3/J mice. To understand the genetic contributions to this trait, we mapped several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for gonadal depot weight in an F2 intercross population. Our goal here was to fine-map one of these QTLs, Adip20 (formerly Adip5), on mouse chromosome 9. To that end, we analyzed the weight of the gonadal adipose depot from newly created congenic strains. Results from the sequential comparison method indicated at least four rather than one QTL; two of the QTLs were less than 0.5 Mb apart, with opposing directions of allelic effect. Different types of evidence (missense and regulatory genetic variation, human adiposity/body mass index orthologues, and differential gene expression) implicated numerous candidate genes from the four QTL regions. These results highlight the value of mouse congenic strains and the value of this sequential method to dissect challenging genetic architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variation contributes to individual differences in obesity, but defining the exact relationships between naturally occurring genotypes and their effects on fatness remains elusive. As a step toward positional cloning of previously identified body composition quantitative trait loci (QTLs) from F2 crosses of mice from the C57BL/6ByJ and 129P3/J inbred strains, we sought to recapture them on a homogenous genetic background of consomic (chromosome substitution) strains. Male and female mice from reciprocal consomic strains originating from the C57BL/6ByJ and 129P3/J strains were bred and measured for body weight, length, and adiposity. Chromosomes 2, 7, and 9 were selected for substitution because previous F2 intercross studies revealed body composition QTLs on these chromosomes. We considered a QTL confirmed if one or both sexes of one or both reciprocal consomic strains differed significantly from the host strain in the expected direction after correction for multiple testing. Using these criteria, we confirmed two of two QTLs for body weight (Bwq5-6), three of three QTLs for body length (Bdln3-5), and three of three QTLs for adiposity (Adip20, Adip26 and Adip27). Overall, this study shows that despite the biological complexity of body size and composition, most QTLs for these traits are preserved when transferred to consomic strains; in addition, studying reciprocal consomic strains of both sexes is useful in assessing the robustness of a particular QTL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the long-term effects of aspirin desensitization on the inflammatory response in patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). The study found that after long-term aspirin desensitization, there were significant increases in interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), suggesting a shift in the inflammatory response. These cytokines are associated with immune tolerance and may play a role in the mechanism of aspirin desensitization. However, the specific cells producing these cytokines and the role of lipid mediators in aspirin desensitization were not addressed in this study. Further research is needed to understand the cellular context and mechanisms associated with these cytokine shifts. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Succinate, although most famous for its role in the Krebs cycle, can be released extracellularly as a signal of cellular distress, particularly in situations of metabolic stress and inflammation. Solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs) express SUCNR1, the succinate receptor, and modulate type 2 inflammatory responses in helminth and protozoal infections in the small intestine. SCCs are the dominant epithelial source of interleukin‐25, as well as an important source of cysteinyl leukotrienes in the airway, and have been implicated as upstream agents in type 2 inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and asthma. Methods: In this study, we used scRNAseq analysis, live cell imaging of intracellular calcium from primary sinonasal air‐liquid interface (ALI) cultures from 1 donor, and measure antimicrobial peptide release from 5 donors to demonstrate preliminary evidence suggesting that succinate can act as a stimulant of SCCs in the human sinonasal epithelium. Results: Results from scRNAseq analysis show that approximately 10% of the SCC/ionocyte cluster of cells expressed SUCNR1 as well as a small population of immune cells. Using live cell imaging of intracellular calcium, we also demonstrate that clusters of cells on primary sinonasal ALI cultures initiated calcium‐mediated signaling in response to succinate stimulation. Furthermore, we present evidence that primary sinonasal ALI cultures treated with succinate had increased levels of apical beta‐defensin 2, an antimicrobial peptide, compared to treatment with a control solution. Conclusion: Overall, these findings demonstrate the need for further investigation into the activation of the sinonasal epithelium by succinate in the pathogenesis of CRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a heritable trait caused by complex interactions between genes and environment, including diet. Gene-by-diet interactions are difficult to study in humans because the human diet is hard to control. Here, we used mice to study dietary obesity genes, by four methods. First, we bred 213 F2 mice from strains that are susceptible [C57BL/6ByJ (B6)] or resistant [129P3/J (129)] to dietary obesity. Percent body fat was assessed after mice ate low-energy diet and again after the same mice ate high-energy diet for 8 weeks. Linkage analyses identified QTLs associated with dietary obesity. Three methods were used to filter candidate genes within the QTL regions: (a) association mapping was conducted using >40 strains; (b) differential gene expression and (c) comparison of genomic DNA sequence, using two strains closely related to the progenitor strains from Experiment 1. The QTL effects depended on whether the mice were male or female or which diet they were recently fed. After feeding a low-energy diet, percent body fat was linked to chr 7 (LOD = 3.42). After feeding a high-energy diet, percent body fat was linked to chr 9 (Obq5; LOD = 3.88), chr 12 (Obq34; LOD = 3.88), and chr 17 (LOD = 4.56). The Chr 7 and 12 QTLs were sex dependent and all QTL were diet-dependent. The combination of filtering methods highlighted seven candidate genes within the QTL locus boundaries: Crx, Dmpk, Ahr, Mrpl28, Glo1, Tubb5, and Mut. However, these filtering methods have limitations so gene identification will require alternative strategies, such as the construction of congenics with very small donor regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemosensory scientists have been skeptical that reports of COVID-19 taste loss are genuine, in part because before COVID-19 taste loss was rare and often confused with smell loss. Therefore, to establish the predicted prevalence rate of taste loss in COVID-19 patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 376 papers published in 2020–2021, with 235 meeting all inclusion criteria. Drawing on previous studies and guided by early meta-analyses, we explored how methodological differences (direct vs. self-report measures) may affect these estimates. We hypothesized that direct measures of taste are at least as sensitive as those obtained by self-report and that the preponderance of evidence confirms taste loss is a symptom of COVID-19. The meta-analysis showed that, among 138,015 COVID-19-positive patients, 36.62% reported taste dysfunction (95% confidence interval: 33.02%–40.39%), and the prevalence estimates were slightly but not significantly higher from studies using direct (n = 15) versus self-report (n = 220) methodologies (Q = 1.73, df = 1, P = 0.1889). Generally, males reported lower rates of taste loss than did females, and taste loss was highest among middle-aged adults. Thus, taste loss is likely a bona fide symptom of COVID-19, meriting further research into the most appropriate direct methods to measure it and its underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemosensory scientists have been skeptical that reports of COVID-19 taste loss are genuine, in part because before COVID-19 taste loss was rare and often confused with smell loss. Therefore, to establish the predicted prevalence rate of taste loss in COVID-19 patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 376 papers published in 2020–2021, with 241 meeting all inclusion criteria. Drawing on previous studies and guided by early meta-analyses, we explored how methodological differences (direct vs. self-report measures) may affect these estimates. We hypothesized that direct measures of taste are at least as sensitive as those obtained by self-report and that the preponderance of evidence confirms taste loss is a symptom of COVID-19. The meta-analysis showed that, among 138,897 COVID-19-positive patients, 39.2% reported taste dysfunction (95% confidence interval: 35.34%–43.12%), and the prevalence estimates were slightly but not significantly higher from studies using direct (n = 18) versus self-report (n = 223) methodologies (Q = 0.57, df = 1, P = 0.45). Generally, males reported lower rates of taste loss than did females, and taste loss was highest among middle-aged adults. Thus, taste loss is likely a bona fide symptom of COVID-19, meriting further research into the most appropriate direct methods to measure it and its underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), and aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) have varying levels of inflammation and disease severity. Solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs) are enriched in nasal polyps, are the primary source of interleukin 25 (IL‐25) in upper airways, leading to type 2 inflammation, and are activated by bitter‐tasting denatonium benzoate (DB). Thus, we sought to evaluate DB taste perception at a range of concentrations in order to identify 1 that most differentiates CRS subgroups from controls. Methods: CRSsNP (n = 25), CRSwNP (n = 26), and AERD (n = 27) patients as well as controls (n = 25) tasted 6 DB concentrations in a fixed, random order, rating on a category scale of 0 (no intensity) to 12 (extremely intense). Sinonasal epithelial cultures were treated with and without denatonium and analyzed for IL‐25 via flow cytometry. Results: CRSsNP patients rated DB as significantly less intense than did controls at all concentrations: 5.62 × 10–9M, 1.00 × 10–8M, 1.78 × 10–8M, 3.16 × 10–8M, 5.62 × 10–8M, and 1.00 × 10–7M (all p < 0.0083). CRSwNP patients did not show significant differences from controls. AERD patients rated DB as significantly more intense than did controls at concentrations of 1.00 × 10–8M and 3.16 × 10–8M (p < 0.0083). In vitro data demonstrated significant increase in IL‐25–positive cells after denatonium stimulation (n = 5), compared to control (n = 5) (p = 0.012). Conclusion: Our findings link in vitro DB stimulation of sinonasal tissue with increased IL‐25 and show differential DB taste perception in CRS subgroups relative to the control group, with CRSsNP being hyposensitive and AERD being hypersensitive. We propose a concentration of 3.16 × 10–8M for future study of clinical utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: chronic rhinosinusitis; human leukocyte antigen; rhinosinusitis; sinusitis EN chronic rhinosinusitis human leukocyte antigen rhinosinusitis sinusitis 1075 1077 3 07/27/22 20220801 NES 220801 INTRODUCTION Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), an extremely common chronic condition, is defined as symptomatic and objective inflammation of the sinonasal mucosa lasting more than 12 weeks.1,2 Treatment for CRS remains a challenge despite our evolving understanding of the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS The 550 patients comprised 317 CRS patients (208 CRSwNP, 109 CRSsNP) and 233 controls (Table 1), all self-identified as white/Caucasian and middle-aged. In summary, we have determined that heterozygous carriers of the rs1391371 T allele are at significantly increased risk for developing CRSwNP, which further supports the potential contribution of this HLA region to CRS. [Extracted from the article]

In a preregistered, cross-sectional study, we investigated whether olfactory loss is a reliable predictor of COVID-19 using a crowdsourced questionnaire in 23 languages to assess symptoms in individuals self-reporting recent respiratory illness. We quantified changes in chemosensory abilities during the course of the respiratory illness using 0–100 visual analog scales (VAS) for participants reporting a positive (C19+; n = 4148) or negative (C19−; n = 546) COVID-19 laboratory test outcome. Logistic regression models identified univariate and multivariate predictors of COVID-19 status and post-COVID-19 olfactory recovery. Both C19+ and C19− groups exhibited smell loss, but it was significantly larger in C19+ participants (mean ± SD, C19+: −82.5 ± 27.2 points; C19−: −59.8 ± 37.7). Smell loss during illness was the best predictor of COVID-19 in both univariate and multivariate models (ROC AUC = 0.72). Additional variables provide negligible model improvement. VAS ratings of smell loss were more predictive than binary chemosensory yes/no-questions or other cardinal symptoms (e.g. fever). Olfactory recovery within 40 days of respiratory symptom onset was reported for ~50% of participants and was best predicted by time since respiratory symptom onset. We find that quantified smell loss is the best predictor of COVID-19 amongst those with symptoms of respiratory illness. To aid clinicians and contact tracers in identifying individuals with a high likelihood of having COVID-19, we propose a novel 0–10 scale to screen for recent olfactory loss, the ODoR-19. We find that numeric ratings ≤2 indicate high odds of symptomatic COVID-19 (4 < OR < 10). Once independently validated, this tool could be deployed when viral lab tests are impractical or unavailable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has currently infected over 6.5 million people worldwide. In response to the pandemic, numerous studies have tried to identify the causes and symptoms of the disease. Emerging evidence supports recently acquired anosmia (complete loss of smell) and hyposmia (partial loss of smell) as symptoms of COVID-19, but studies of olfactory dysfunction show a wide range of prevalence from 5% to 98%. We undertook a search of Pubmed/Medline and Google Scholar with the keywords "COVID-19," "smell," and/or "olfaction." We included any study that quantified smell loss (anosmia and hyposmia) as a symptom of COVID-19. Studies were grouped and compared based on the type of method used to measure smell loss—subjective measures, such as self-reported smell loss, versus objective measures using rated stimuli—to determine if prevalence differed by method type. For each study, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated from point estimates of olfactory disturbances. We identified 34 articles quantifying anosmia as a symptom of COVID-19 (6 objective and 28 subjective), collected from cases identified from January 16 to April 30, 2020. The pooled prevalence estimate of smell loss was 77% when assessed through objective measurements (95% CI of 61.4–89.2%) and 44% with subjective measurements (95% CI of 32.2–57.0%). Objective measures are a more sensitive method to identify smell loss as a result of infection with SARS-CoV-2; the use of subjective measures, while expedient during the early stages of the pandemic, underestimates the true prevalence of smell loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integumentary (i.e., skin) and gustatory systems both function to protect the human body and are a first point of contact with poisons and pathogens. These systems may share a similar protective mechanism because, as we show here, both human taste and skin cells express mRNA for bitter ‘taste’ receptors (TAS2Rs). We used gene-specific methods to measure mRNA from all known bitter receptor genes in adult human skin from freshly biopsied samples and from samples collected at autopsy from the Genotype-Tissue Expression project. Human skin expressed some but not all TAS2Rs, and for those that were expressed, the relative amounts differed markedly among individuals. For some TAS2Rs, mRNA abundance was related to presumed sun exposure based on the location from which the skin sample was collected (TAS2R14, TAS2R30, TAS2R42, and TAS2R60), sex (TAS2R3, TAS2R4, TAS2R8, TAS2R9, TAS2R14, and TAS2R60), and age (TAS2R5), although these effects were not large. These findings contribute to our understanding of extraoral expression of chemosensory receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor of the journal "Chemical Senses" acknowledges concerns about overestimating taste loss as a symptom of COVID-19. The overestimate may have been due to including studies that used unvalidated sensory tests and had biased participant selection. The authors of the letter admit to including six biased studies and have removed them from the analysis, with no change in the outcomes or conclusions. They also mention the importance of including studies with validated methods in future meta-analyses. [Extracted from the article]

BSTRACT Sweet taste is a powerful factor influencing food acceptance. There is considerable variation in sweet taste perception and preferences within and among species. Although learning and homeostatic mechanisms contribute to this variation in sweet taste, much of it is genetically determined. Recent studies have shown that variation in the T1R genes contributes to within- and between-species differences in sweet taste. In addition, our ongoing studies using the mouse model demonstrate that a significant portion of variation in sweetener preferences depends on genes that are not involved in peripheral taste processing. These genes are likely involved in central mechanisms of sweet taste processing, reward and/or motivation. Genetic variation in sweet taste not only influences food choice and intake, but is also associated with proclivity to drink alcohol. Both peripheral and central mechanisms of sweet taste underlie correlation between sweet-liking and alcohol consumption in animal models and humans. All these data illustrate complex genetics of sweet taste preferences and its impact on human nutrition and health. Identification of genes responsible for within- and between-species variation in sweet taste can provide tools to better control food acceptance in humans and other animals. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]