tuft cell of large intestine tuft cell of colon Tuft cells, also often referred to as brush cells or caveolated cells, are highly specialized sensory cells found in the colon, among other organs. They were named for their unique appearance under an electron microscope, which presents a distinctive ‘tuft-like’ morphology. They are characterized by apical microvilli, arranged in an irregular tuft that confers a dome-like shape. These cells comprise only a small fraction of the cells in the epithelial layer of the colon, making them among the least populous cell types in this region. Tuft cells in the colon primarily function as chemosensory cells that can sense and respond to environmental changes. These cells can detect and respond to microbial metabolites, helping initiate immune responses against potential threats. Recent studies have revealed that tuft cells play a role in responding to intestinal parasitic infections. When a gastrointestinal parasite infects the colon, tuft cells are activated and release the cytokine IL-25. This action increases the production of tuft cells and triggers essential Th2 immune responses to expel the parasites. Also, the removal of tuft cells has been linked to increased susceptibility to these infections. However, overactivity of tuft cells has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease, highlighting the need for a delicate balance of tuft cell function to maintain colon homeostasis. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) colon tuft cell A tuft cell that is part of the colonic epithelium, primarily adapted for microbial sensing in the dense colonic microbiota. Unlike its small intestinal counterpart, it does not participate in parasite-driven tuft cell–ILC2 circuits. Instead, it detects bacterial metabolites via taste-signaling pathways (Strine and Craig, 2022). The colonic tuft cell plays a key role in epithelial repair, modulates inflammatory responses through IL-25 secretion, and contributes to intestinal homeostasis by balancing microbiome interactions (Sebastian et al., 2021). colon epithelial cell