Two-Stage Gut Signal Triggers Appetite Loss During Infection
UC San Francisco researchers reveal a two-stage gut signaling pathway: parasite detection by tuft cells releases acetylcholine, which prompts enterochromaffin cells to release serotonin and activate vagal brain signals, leading to delayed appetite suppression as infection takes hold; the finding links gut immune response to behavior and could inform gut disorders like IBS and food intolerances.
