"Unveiling the Role of Enteric Glia in Gut Health and Inflammation"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Quanta Magazine
Glial cells, a type of cell in the gut's "second brain," have been found to play a crucial role in gut health. These cells can sense physical forces and trigger muscular contractions, contributing to digestion. There are multiple subtypes of glial cells in the gut, and dysfunction in these cells has been linked to gastrointestinal disorders and diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Glial cells also communicate with the microbiome, immune cells, and other gut cells, and their dysfunction can weaken the intestinal barrier and lead to inappropriate immune responses. Targeting glial cells could potentially alleviate pain caused by inflammatory disorders of the gut.