Unveiling the Synergy of Enteric Glia and Immune Cells in Resolving Intestinal Inflammation.

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sven Wehner
• Subject Area: Gastroenterology ; General and Visceral Surgery
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 550257944

Inflammation is a critical response to tissue damage, serving as a protective mechanism to eliminate harmful stimuli and initiate healing. However, inflammation needs to be tightly regulated to prevent excessive or prolonged activation. This is essential in the intestine, a site where the immune system constantly encounters foreign antigens from food and microbiota. Achieving a balance between immune activation and tolerance is fundamental for preserving intestinal homeostasis and preventing excessive immune reactions in the gut. Disruption of this balance can lead to intestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease and allergies. Our lab has recently highlighted the enteric nervous system's role in modulating the mucosal immune system and regulating intestinal inflammation. Building on this, our preliminary data, derived from a novel co-culture method and glia-specific mouse models developed in our labs, suggest that enteric glia can influence immune cell responses and aid in resolving inflammation. Yet, the communication pathways between enteric glia and immune cells remain largely unexplored. Our project aims to test the hypothesis that enteric glia are pivotal in promoting the resolution of intestinal inflammation via their ability of educating intestinal immune cells towards a state of "immunological tolerance". Understanding how mucosal immune cells interact with enteric glia could pave the way for new treatments for intestinal immune-mediated diseases.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Belgium
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Gianluca Matteoli, Ph.D.