Merkel cells and keratinocytes in oral mucosa are activated by mechanical stimulation.
Merkel cells and keratinocytes in oral mucosa are activated by mechanical stimulation.
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DOI：
10.14814/phy2.15826
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发表时间：
2024-01
影响因子：
2.5
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中科院分区：
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食品机械品质的检测对于营养获取、食品新鲜度评估以及咀嚼过程中食团的形成至关重要。然而，口腔中的机械敏感细胞将机械信息从外周传递到大脑的机制尚不清楚。我们假设默克尔细胞是上皮机械感受器，对于皮肤的压力和纹理感知很重要，可以在口腔中被机械激活。使用活细胞钙成像，我们记录了小鼠离体牙龈和腭制剂中默克尔细胞对机械刺激的反应。默克尔细胞以特定区域的方式以不同的时间模式和激活阈值做出反应，硬腭中的默克尔细胞比牙龈中的默克尔细胞具有更高的平均激活阈值。出乎意料的是，我们发现即使在没有默克尔细胞的情况下，口腔角质形成细胞也会被机械刺激激活。这表明口腔粘膜的机械刺激独立地激活至少两个上皮细胞亚群。最后，我们发现口腔默克尔细胞有助于偏好食用油性乳液。据我们所知，这些数据代表了默克尔细胞生理学及其在口腔风味检测中的作用的首次功能研究。本文探讨了口腔中食物质地检测的潜在机制，重点关注默克尔细胞响应机械刺激的激活。该研究揭示了默克尔细胞激活阈值的区域特异性差异和口腔角质形成细胞的意外激活。在我们的行为研究中，发现口腔默克尔细胞有助于人们对油性乳液的偏好，这揭示了它们在风味检测中的作用。
The detection of mechanical qualities of foodstuffs is essential for nutrient acquisition, evaluation of food freshness, and bolus formation during mastication. However, the mechanisms through which mechanosensitive cells in the oral cavity transmit mechanical information from the periphery to the brain are not well defined. We hypothesized Merkel cells, which are epithelial mechanoreceptors and important for pressure and texture sensing in the skin, can be mechanically activated in the oral cavity. Using live‐cell calcium imaging, we recorded Merkel cell activity in ex vivo gingival and palatal preparations from mice in response to mechanical stimulation. Merkel cells responded with distinct temporal patterns and activation thresholds in a region‐specific manner, with Merkel cells in the hard palate having a higher mean activation threshold than those in the gingiva. Unexpectedly, we found that oral keratinocytes were also activated by mechanical stimulation, even in the absence of Merkel cells. This indicates that mechanical stimulation of oral mucosa independently activates at least two subpopulations of epithelial cells. Finally, we found that oral Merkel cells contribute to preference for consuming oily emulsion. To our knowledge, these data represent the first functional study of Merkel‐cell physiology and its role in flavor detection in the oral cavity. This article explores the potential mechanism of food texture detection in the oral cavity, focusing on Merkel cells' activation in response to mechanical stimulation. The study reveals region‐specific differences in Merkel cell activation thresholds and unexpected activation of oral keratinocytes. In our behavioral study, oral Merkel cells are found to contribute to the preference for consumption of an oily emulsion, shedding light on their role in flavor detection.