How colon tuft cells detect microbes and help protect the gut
The role of colonic tuft cells in microbial detection and mucosal immunity
This project looks at how rare 'tuft' cells in the large intestine sense microbes and trigger immune signals that may protect people from gut infections and inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11372178 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study special chemosensory cells called tuft cells in the colon to see how they respond to microbes and influence local immunity. They will focus on interactions with diverse commensal protists called tritrichomonads that appear to activate colonic tuft cells. The team will search for the specific receptor(s) on tuft cells that detect these microbes and test how tuft cell activation affects the intestinal barrier and inflammation. Most work will use laboratory models and tissue samples to map the signaling pathways involved.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with conditions of the large intestine—such as chronic or recurrent gut infections, unexplained colitis, or inflammatory bowel disease—who can donate stool or colon tissue samples would be the most relevant participants.
Not a fit: Those without colon disease or anyone seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat intestinal infections and inflammatory gut conditions by targeting tuft-cell signaling.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies showed tuft cells in the small intestine detect parasites and trigger protective type 2 immune responses, but applying these findings to the colon and to tritrichomonad microbes is newer and less established.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Howitt, Michael R — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Howitt, Michael R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.