# Chemosensory tuft cells and intestinal homeostasis

> **NIH NIH K01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $153,263

## Abstract

Project Summary
Epithelial cells form a physical and biochemical barrier against the vast number of microbes inhabiting
the gut. Secretion of mucus and antimicrobial peptides by epithelial cells enhance barrier function and
shape the composition of the microbiota. Intestinal epithelial cells also monitor lumenal microbes and
transmit information to underlying immune cells to shape mucosal immunity. Within the collective
epithelium there are six specialized subsets of cells, including tuft cells. Previously, the function of tuft
cells was unknown until our group and two others reported their role in parasite response and
mucosal immunity. The mechanistic basis of parasite recognition by tuft cells is poorly understood, as
both the receptors and microbial agonists are unknown. To close this knowledge gap, this proposal
will build on our observation that tuft cells utilize taste-chemosensation to respond to parasite
infections. First, we will identify the taste-chemosensory receptors that detect parasites. In parallel we
determine the microbial agonists that stimulate tuft cell taste chemosensation. Using next-generation
sequencing and gnotobiotic mice, this study will disentangle the role of the parasite-altered
microbiome from direct stimulation of tuft cells by parasites and their products. This project will yield
valuable information on specific interactions between tuft cell receptors and their agonists thereby
expanding the understanding of taste receptors as novel intestinal microbial recognition receptors.
Tuft cells and taste-chemosensation are fundamentally new form of microbial detection in the gut and
represent a promising area to develop future therapies targeting intestinal inflammatory disease. In
addition the data, training, and knowledge obtained from this proposal are critical for my continued
development as an independent investigator.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10115028
- **Project number:** 5K01DK113041-05
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael R Howitt
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $153,263
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-04-05 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10115028

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10115028, Chemosensory tuft cells and intestinal homeostasis (5K01DK113041-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10115028. Licensed CC0.

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