# Tuft cell heterogeneity in function, lineage, and structure in ileal inflammatory disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $47,193

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a
complex group of intestinal disorders that results in injury to the epithelium exposing the host to
the luminal microbes. Tuft cells have recently been identified as a responder to the microbiome,
where they can secrete damage-restitution molecules such as prostaglandins. Furthermore, our
lab has successfully demonstrated that tuft cells promote the restoration of intestinal architecture
in ileal inflammatory disease. In this supplement, we propose innovative experimental and
computational approaches to decipher the effector molecules downstream of tuft cells that
modulate inflammation. We will use mouse models where of tuft cell ablation and tuft cell specific
gene knockout to determine whether prostaglandin production from tuft cells is responsible for
their immunomodulatory effects. The epithelial and microenvironmental mechanisms responsible
for these changes will be assayed by single-cell sequencing and multiplex immunofluorescence.
Through our findings, we aim to make significant contributions to the current understanding of tuft
cell biology and inflammation in the intestine. Ultimately, this research will allow us to better
understand where tuft cells act in IBD and expand the pool of targets in this complex, multifactorial
disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10396926
- **Project number:** 3R01DK103831-06S1
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ken S Lau
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $47,193
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10396926

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10396926, Tuft cell heterogeneity in function, lineage, and structure in ileal inflammatory disease (3R01DK103831-06S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10396926. Licensed CC0.

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