All articles tagged with #tuft cells
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.
New research reveals a two-phase, paracrine dialogue between gut tuft cells and serotonergic enterochromaffin (EC) cells that links parasite detection to brain signaling and feeding behavior. Tuft cells release acetylcholine (ACh) in an acute, parasite-triggered fashion and also a constitutive leak during type 2 inflammation; both modes can activate EC cells, but only sustained ACh release raises serotonin enough to stimulate vagal afferents and suppress food intake. This epithelial crosstalk couples type 2 immune responses with sensory signaling to drive gut–brain communication and protective behaviors during parasitic infections, explaining progression from asymptomatic to symptomatic disease.