CIBSS - Centre for integrative Biological Signalling Studies CIBSS

Dedicated macrophages organize and maintain the enteric nervous system

Viola MF, Chavero-Pieres M, Modave E, Delfini M, Stakenborg N, Estévez MC, Fabre N, Appeltans I, Martens T, Vandereyken K, Theobald H, Van Herck J, Petry P, Verheijden S, De Schepper S, Sifrim A, Liu Z, Ginhoux F, Azhar M, Schlitzer A, Matteoli G, Kierdorf K, Prinz M, Vanden Berghe P, Voet T, Boeckxstaens G.

Nature. 2023; doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06200-7.

The findings introduce a new reciprocal cell-cell communication responsible for maintenance of the ENS and indicate that the ENS is shaped and maintained by a dedicated population of resident macrophages that adapts its phenotype and transcriptome to the timely needs of the ENS niche.