Publications by authors named "Leven Patrick"
Current studies pictured the enteric nervous system and macrophages as modulators of neuroimmune processes in the inflamed gut. Expanding this view, we investigated the impact of enteric neuron-macrophage interactions on postoperative trauma and subsequent motility disturbances, i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of reactive enteric glia-macrophage interactions in acute and chronic inflammation.
Neurogastroenterol Motil
October 2024
Article Synopsis
- Enteric glia are important cells in the gut that help maintain various functions like motor control, tissue health, and immune responses, communicating closely with nerve cells under normal conditions.
- When inflammation occurs, these glial cells become reactive, aiding in immune responses by releasing signaling molecules that attract immune cells, which can influence disease outcomes.
- Recent research highlights the complex interactions between reactive enteric glia and immune cells during both acute conditions like postoperative inflammation and chronic issues such as inflammatory bowel diseases, pointing to the need for more studies on their role in gut inflammation.
Background: Enteric glia contribute to the pathophysiology of various intestinal immune-driven diseases, such as postoperative ileus (POI), a motility disorder and common complication after abdominal surgery. Enteric gliosis of the intestinal muscularis externa (ME) has been identified as part of POI development. However, the glia-restricted responses and activation mechanisms are poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- ET-1 signaling plays a role in regulating intestinal motility and inflammation, primarily through the involvement of enteric glial cells, which influence neural-motor pathways.* -
- The study involved various experimental methods, including the use of ET-related drugs and genetically modified mice, to uncover how ET-1 and its receptors affect calcium responses and motor contractions in the intestines.* -
- Key findings suggest that glial ET signaling inhibits intestinal contractions and peristalsis, especially during inflammation, and that targeted blocking of ET receptors could alleviate intestinal inflammation in specific conditions.*
Article Synopsis
- * The study shows that IL1R1 signaling causes EGCs to enter a reactive state known as enteric gliosis, which leads to the activation of immune responses and is an early event in POI development.
- * Mice lacking IL1R1 in EGCs are resistant to POI, suggesting that targeting this signaling pathway could be an effective way to prevent motility disorders and inflammation after bowel surgery.
Article Synopsis
- Traditional methods for studying gene expression in specific intestinal cells often lead to degraded RNA, making it difficult to analyze enteric neurons and glial cells effectively.
- A new method was developed using a crossbreed of Sox10 and ChAT mice with RiboTag technology, allowing for the direct isolation of cell-specific mRNA from tissue without sorting.
- The study confirmed the success of this technique, showing an effective way to analyze gene expression in enteric cells, which can aid research on intestinal diseases involving these cell types.
Article Synopsis
- * Research using GFAP x Ai14 mice showed that EGCs produce GDNF both in living organisms and in lab cultures, confirming their role as a major GDNF source.
- * The study found that co-culturing EGCs with Caco2 cells enhances IEB maturation, and this process is disrupted if GDNF is depleted or if its receptor, RET, is blocked, suggesting GDNF's protective role against barrier dysfunction.
Article Synopsis
- Enteric glial cells (EGCs) play a critical role in gut health by regulating motility, maintaining balance, and contributing to inflammation in intestinal diseases; however, the mechanisms behind their activation, especially after injury, are not fully understood.
- Research suggests that surgical trauma during intestinal surgery releases ATP, which activates a specific signaling pathway (p38-dependent MAPK), leading to enteric gliosis and inflammation, resulting in impaired gut motility known as postoperative ileus (POI).
- The study identified the P2X2 receptor as a key target in this process and discovered that ambroxol, a drug that blocks this receptor, can prevent gliosis and inflammation in both mice and human intestines, suggesting it may