Exploration of Neuroscience

Special Issue Topic

Enteric Neuro-Gliopathies: Ready for Prime Time?

Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025

Guest Editor

Prof. Gabrio Bassotti E-Mail

Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, Perugia University School of Medicine, Perugia, Italy

Research Keywords: Constipation, gastrointestinal motility, enteric glial cells, entero-neurogliopathies

About the Special Issue

There is presently wide consensus on the fact that the enteric nervous system (ENS) represents a “second brain” for organisms. The ENS controls almost all activities of the gut, and it is mainly composed of enteric neurons, enteric glial cells (EGC), and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), arranged in a complex neural networks throughout the intestinal wall. Among the many complex functions regulated by the ENS, one of the most important is related to the control of intestinal motility. Indeed, there is mounting evidence that several of the so-called “functional” disorders are actually due to ENS dysfunction, and should be probably reclassified as “enteric neuro-gliopathies”.
In this special issue will be considered studies (basic science and clinical) on the possible dysfunction of the cell types forming the ENS in the pathophysiology of enteric dysmotilities and enteric motor/perceptive disorders affecting the gut-brain axis.

Call for Papers

Published Articles

Open Access

Review

Do enteric glial cells play a role in the pathophysiology of major depression?
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder associated with significant suffering and disability. Recent evidence has highlighted the role of the gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis o [...] Read more.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder associated with significant suffering and disability. Recent evidence has highlighted the role of the gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of MDD. Enteric glial cells are a structurally and functionally diverse population that plays a key role in regulating enteric nervous function and maintaining intestinal mucosal integrity. These cells may be implicated in the origin of several digestive and extra-digestive disorders, known as enteric neuro-gliopathies (ENG). This paper reviews the evidence that MDD may also belong to the category of ENG. Animal models suggest that environmental adversity can lead to enteric glial dysfunction and depressive-like behaviors. Conditions that are highly comorbid with MDD, both intestinal and extra-intestinal, have been linked to enteric glial alterations. Peripheral blood markers linked to glial integrity and function are altered in patients with MDD, and certain treatments for MDD may have beneficial effects on enteric glial functioning. Though much of this evidence is indirect and provisional, it suggests that MDD may belong to the group of ENG. Further investigation of enteric glial functioning in MDD may yield valuable insights into the pathophysiology and treatment of this disorder.

Ravi Philip Rajkumar

Published: April 28, 2024 Explor Neurosci. 2024;3:156–174
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/en.2024.00042

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Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder associated with significant suffering and disability. Recent evidence has highlighted the role of the gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of MDD. Enteric glial cells are a structurally and functionally diverse population that plays a key role in regulating enteric nervous function and maintaining intestinal mucosal integrity. These cells may be implicated in the origin of several digestive and extra-digestive disorders, known as enteric neuro-gliopathies (ENG). This paper reviews the evidence that MDD may also belong to the category of ENG. Animal models suggest that environmental adversity can lead to enteric glial dysfunction and depressive-like behaviors. Conditions that are highly comorbid with MDD, both intestinal and extra-intestinal, have been linked to enteric glial alterations. Peripheral blood markers linked to glial integrity and function are altered in patients with MDD, and certain treatments for MDD may have beneficial effects on enteric glial functioning. Though much of this evidence is indirect and provisional, it suggests that MDD may belong to the group of ENG. Further investigation of enteric glial functioning in MDD may yield valuable insights into the pathophysiology and treatment of this disorder.

Open Access

Systematic Review

Role of antioxidants as immunity booster in obesity and diabetes: a systematic review on neuro-gliopathies perspective
Background: The main objective of the study was to carry out a systematic literature review to investigate the beneficial role of antioxidants in obesity and diabetes and the association of antio [...] Read more.

Background:

The main objective of the study was to carry out a systematic literature review to investigate the beneficial role of antioxidants in obesity and diabetes and the association of antioxidants in neuro-gliopathies and gut microbiome on antioxidant production and enteric nervous system (ENS) protection.

Methods:

A literature search was done electronically on 8 June 2022 in the databases Google Scholar, and PubMed, reviewing all the articles published in English. There were no limitations for the study (region, or any time frame). The study included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies on a human subject, primarily focusing on information such as a change in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fasting blood glucose level, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and other parameters that connected with diabetes and obesity. The search was also conducted for neuro-gliopathies and gut microbiome.

Results:

The beginning database search picked out a total of 2,428 articles, 1,310 in PubMed, 876 in Google Scholar, and 242 records from other sources. A total of 2,040 (total duplicates 388) was found after removing the duplicated articles, and after reading the title and abstracts were further decreased to 139 full-text articles. These 139 studies went for full-text analysis, which resulted in the exclusion of 123 studies and generated a final 16 articles included for systemic analysis.

Discussion:

This literature search of present studies shows the interconnection between antioxidant intake among obese and diabetes neuro-gliopathies. The findings indicate both obese and diabetic patients have a minimum content of antioxidants, especially carotenoids, retinol, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, magnesium, and zinc. While few research illustrated that ingestion of the abovementioned antioxidants was lowered among diabetes and obese subjects in contrast with their normal-weight population, this was not endorsed by every study.

Luxita Sharma, Dhananjay Sharma

Published: April 07, 2024 Explor Neurosci. 2024;3:103–129
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/en.2024.00039

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View:1047

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Times Cited: 0

Background:

The main objective of the study was to carry out a systematic literature review to investigate the beneficial role of antioxidants in obesity and diabetes and the association of antioxidants in neuro-gliopathies and gut microbiome on antioxidant production and enteric nervous system (ENS) protection.

Methods:

A literature search was done electronically on 8 June 2022 in the databases Google Scholar, and PubMed, reviewing all the articles published in English. There were no limitations for the study (region, or any time frame). The study included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies on a human subject, primarily focusing on information such as a change in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fasting blood glucose level, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and other parameters that connected with diabetes and obesity. The search was also conducted for neuro-gliopathies and gut microbiome.

Results:

The beginning database search picked out a total of 2,428 articles, 1,310 in PubMed, 876 in Google Scholar, and 242 records from other sources. A total of 2,040 (total duplicates 388) was found after removing the duplicated articles, and after reading the title and abstracts were further decreased to 139 full-text articles. These 139 studies went for full-text analysis, which resulted in the exclusion of 123 studies and generated a final 16 articles included for systemic analysis.

Discussion:

This literature search of present studies shows the interconnection between antioxidant intake among obese and diabetes neuro-gliopathies. The findings indicate both obese and diabetic patients have a minimum content of antioxidants, especially carotenoids, retinol, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, magnesium, and zinc. While few research illustrated that ingestion of the abovementioned antioxidants was lowered among diabetes and obese subjects in contrast with their normal-weight population, this was not endorsed by every study.

Guest Editor

About the Special Issue

Call for Papers

Published Articles

Background:

Methods:

Results:

Discussion:

Background:

Methods:

Results:

Discussion: