The Enteric Nervous System in Intestinal Inflammation

Since about the 1950s nerves in the wall of the intestine have been postulated to play a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Human and animal studies examining the role of nerves in intestinal inflammation are the focus of this review. Consideration is given to two possible ways that nerves are involved in IBD. First, nerves may play a role in the development or maintenance of inflammation through local release of transmitters. Second, once initiated (by whatever means), the processes of inflammation may disrupt the normal pattern of innervation and the interactions of nerves and their target tissues. Many of the functional disturbances observed in IBD are likely due to an alteration in the enteric nervous system either structurally through disruptions of nerve-target relationships or by modifications of neurotransmitters or their receptors. Finally, it appears that the enteric nervous system may be a potential therapeutic target in IBD and that neuroactive drugs acting locally can represent useful agents in the management of this disease.

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The Enteric Nervous System and the Microenvironment of the Gut: The Translational Aspects of the Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app112412000 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (24) ◽

pp. 12000

Author(s):

Fruzsina Mogor ◽

Tamás Kovács ◽

Zoltan Lohinai ◽

David Dora

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Enteric Nervous System ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Waste Products ◽

Close Cooperation ◽

Inflammatory Bowel ◽

External Stimuli ◽

Chronic Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Molecular Crosstalk

The proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is essential for digestion, absorption and the elimination of waste products. It protects us against pathogens, allergens and toxins, continuously monitoring and regulating the internal environment. The vast majority of these tasks are carried out by the nervous and immune systems of the gut in close cooperation by constantly adapting to internal and external stimuli, maintaining its homeostasis. In this review, we would like to summarize the most recent findings about the cytoarchitecture and functional microanatomy of the enteric nervous system and the immune microenvironment of the gut highlighting the essential role and inevitable molecular crosstalk between these two highly organized networks. Gut neuroimmunology is a rapidly evolving field and might help us to understand the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease and the systemic consequences of chronic intestinal inflammation. Finally, we also included a brief outlook to present the most recent research depicting the multifaceted role of the gut microbiome, its contribution to the gut-brain axis and human disease.

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Role of semaphorin 3A in the Postnatal Development of the Enteric Nervous System

10.26226/morressier.59a6b348d462b80290b5504f ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Jacques GONZALES

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Enteric Nervous System ◽

Postnatal Development ◽

Semaphorin 3A

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Obesity and inflammatory bowel disease

Gastroenterologie a hepatologie ◽

10.48095/ccgh202120 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

pp. 20-28

Author(s):

Vladimír Teplan ◽

Milan Lukáš

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Bowel Disease ◽

Adipose Tissue ◽

Bowel Disease ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Perioperative Complications ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Special Role ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Inflammatory Bowel

The incidence and prevalence of overweight and obesity has dramatically increased in the last decades and is generally considered to be global pandemics. The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising parallel with overweight and obesity. Contrary to a conventional believe, about 15–40% patients with IBD are obese, which can contribute to the development and course of IBD, especially in Crohn’s disease. Although the findings of some cohort studies are still conflicting, recent results indicate a special role of visceral adipose tissue and particularly mesenteric adipose tissue known as creeping fat, leading to intestinal inflammation. The involvement of altered adipocyte function and deregulated production of adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin has been suggested in the pathogenesis of IBD. The emerging role of Western diet and microbiota can also open new possibilities in IBD management. The effect of obesity on the IBD-related therapy remains to be studied. The finding that obesity results in suboptimal response to the therapy, potentially promoting rapid clearance of biologic agents and thus leading to their low concentrations, has a great importance. Obesity also makes IBD colorectal surgery technically challenging and might increase a risk of perioperative complications.

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The Role of Cellular Prion Protein in Cancer Biology: A Potential Therapeutic Target

Frontiers in Oncology ◽

10.3389/fonc.2021.742949 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Manqiu Ding ◽

Yongqiang Chen ◽

Yue Lang ◽

Li Cui

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Nervous System ◽

Cell Survival ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Prion Protein ◽

Therapeutic Target ◽

Cancer Biology ◽

Cellular Prion Protein ◽

Potential Therapeutic Target

Prion protein has two isoforms including cellular prion protein (PrPC) and scrapie prion protein (PrPSc). PrPSc is the pathological aggregated form of prion protein and it plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases. PrPC is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein that can attach to a membrane. Its expression begins at embryogenesis and reaches the highest level in adulthood. PrPC is expressed in the neurons of the nervous system as well as other peripheral organs. Studies in recent years have disclosed the involvement of PrPC in various aspects of cancer biology. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the roles of PrPC in proliferation, cell survival, invasion/metastasis, and stem cells of cancer cells, as well as its role as a potential therapeutic target.

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ROLE OF THE ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM IN REGULATING MOTILITY OF THE SMALL INTESTINE: A RECOLLECTION OF MY STUDY

Biomedical Research ◽

10.2220/biomedres.14.149 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 149-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

SYOMATU YOKOYAMA

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Small Intestine ◽

Enteric Nervous System

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The role of the enteric nervous system in the fluid and electrolyte secretion of rotavirus diarrhea in newborn mice

Gastroenterology ◽

10.1016/s0016-5085(00)80327-3 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 118 (4) ◽

pp. A1130

Author(s):

Ove Lundgren ◽

Attila Timar Peregrin ◽

Kjell Persson ◽

Shirin Kordasti ◽

Ingrid Uhnoo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Enteric Nervous System ◽

Newborn Mice ◽

Electrolyte Secretion ◽

Rotavirus Diarrhea

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Thymus leukemia antigen controls intraepithelial lymphocyte function and inflammatory bowel disease

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.0808242105 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 105 (46) ◽

pp. 17931-17936 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Danyvid Olivares-Villagómez ◽

Yanice V. Mendez-Fernandez ◽

Vrajesh V. Parekh ◽

Saif Lalani ◽

Tiffaney L. Vincent ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Bowel Disease ◽

Bowel Disease ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Genetic Model ◽

Critical Role ◽

Intraepithelial Lymphocytes ◽

Lymphocyte Function ◽

Intestinal Epithelial ◽

Inflammatory Bowel

Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) bear a partially activated phenotype that permits them to rapidly respond to antigenic insults. However, this phenotype also implies that IEL must be highly controlled to prevent misdirected immune reactions. It has been suggested that IEL are regulated through the interaction of the CD8αα homodimer with the thymus leukemia (TL) antigen expressed by intestinal epithelial cells. We have generated and characterized mice genetically-deficient in TL expression. Our findings show that TL expression has a critical role in maintaining IEL effector functions. Also, TL deficiency accelerated colitis in a genetic model of inflammatory bowel disease. These findings reveal an important regulatory role of TL in controlling IEL function and intestinal inflammation.

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Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Journal of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis ◽

10.1177/2475530318761399 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 54-58

Author(s):

Eric J. Yang ◽

Sahil Sekhon ◽

Kristen M. Beck ◽

Isabelle M. Sanchez ◽

Tina Bhutani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psoriatic Arthritis ◽

Vagus Nerve ◽

Nerve Stimulation ◽

Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽

Animal Studies ◽

Chronic Inflammatory Disease ◽

Inflammatory Processes ◽

Current Therapies ◽

Inflammatory Bowel

Treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have progressed at a rapid rate over the past 20 years, but treating patients with recalcitrant disease still remains a difficult task. Current therapies for these diseases involve topical agents, phototherapy, and systemic immunosuppression. However, the role of the nervous system in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis remains largely unexplored. Recent animal studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that vagus nerve stimulation can decrease inflammatory processes in rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. In this article, we outline the existing knowledge of the nervous system’s role in chronic inflammatory disease and discuss how these findings could be utilized in the future for treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

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