IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Tuft cells

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The session opened at Immunology 2026 with introductions from the AI committee chairs, who outlined a “back to school” review of four rapidly evolving immunology topics. Speakers were set to cover tuft cells, immune-stromal interactions, new models for cell-cell communication, and innate-like lymphocyte memory.<br /><br />The main presentation focused on tuft cells, given by Jakob Von Moltke. He explained that although the epithelium is often portrayed as uniform, it contains specialized cell lineages with distinct immune and physiological functions. Tuft cells, long overlooked, were identified by their unique microvilli “tuft” and are found at mucosal barriers such as the intestine, airway, gallbladder, and thymus.<br /><br />Von Moltke described how tuft cells share a chemosensory program with taste receptor cells, using POU2F3, GNAT3, PLCβ2, and TRPM5. They detect diverse inputs including microbial products, allergens, and metabolites like succinate, then respond by releasing IL-25, leukotrienes, acetylcholine, and other mediators. These signals activate innate lymphoid cells and TH2 cells, drive tuft cell hyperplasia, and promote worm expulsion, mucus secretion, fluid release, and other barrier-defense functions.<br /><br />He also highlighted emerging roles for tuft cells in viral infection, epithelial regeneration, cancer, and human disease, while noting major unanswered questions about how they sense helminths and how their intracellular signaling works.

Meta Tag

Date April 15, 2026 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM

Room 104AB

Session AAI Program Committee Session: Back to School: A Review of Four Fast-Moving Fields, sponsored by the AAI Program Committee

Speaker Jakob von Moltke

Track Lymphocyte Differentiation and Peripheral Maintenance (LYM)

Year 2026

Keywords

tuft cells

immunology

mucosal barriers

innate lymphoid cells

TH2 response

epithelial regeneration

helminth immunity

April 15, 2026 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM

104AB

AAI Program Committee Session: Back to School: A Review of Four Fast-Moving Fields, sponsored by the AAI Program Committee

Jakob von Moltke

Lymphocyte Differentiation and Peripheral Maintenance (LYM)

2026