New research from the Monell Center reveals that tumor necrosis factor (TNF), an immune system regulatory protein that promotes inflammation, also helps regulate sensitivity to bitter taste.
The finding may provide a mechanism to explain the taste system abnormalities and decreased food intake that can be associated with infections, autoimmune disorders and chronic inflammatory diseases.
In addition to its role in mediating inflammation, TNF has been implicated in the progression of varied diseases ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to cancer.
