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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Aug 15.
Published in final edited form as: Biochem J. 2011 Aug 15;438(1):33–37. doi: 10.1042/BJ20110009

Figure 6. Model of intestinal host defense system by bitter taste receptor and efflux transporter.

Figure 6

Toxic substance (i.e. PTC) activates bitter taste receptor, T2R38 leading to release of gut hormones. CCK released from the basal surface of the enteroendocrine cells, increases through paracrine signaling expression of efflux transporter, ABCB1 in the enterocytes, resulting in rapid excretion of bitter or dietary toxin. EEC, enteroendocrine cells; EC, enterocytes.