| Theme |
The Beginning of Neurogastroenterology |
| Title |
Nerve-Immune-Gut Communication: Intestinal Muscularis Resident Macrophages and GI Dysmotility |
| Author |
Hiroshi Ozaki |
Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Science, The University of Tokyo |
| Author |
Toshihiko Suzuki |
Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine |
| Author |
Kazuhide Horiguchi |
Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Science, The University of Tokyo |
| Author |
Kazuya Kinoshita |
Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Science, The University of Tokyo |
| Author |
Masatoshi Hori |
Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Science, The University of Tokyo |
| Author |
Hideaki Karaki |
Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Science, The University of Tokyo |
| [ Summary ] |
With the development of research into the function of the central nervous system, the research on "the brain-gut axis" has advanced greatly. Looking at the field of digestive tract, it has been clarified that central nerve information is transmitted to the intestines not only by the autonomic nervous system but also by the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) which mediate the crosstalk between the autonomic nerves and the intestinal smooth muscle cells. In addition, it was found that resident macrophages are distributed in the Auerbach's nerve plexus and the serosal surface of the digestive tract and the number of macrophages increases during enteritis. The macrophages produce active substances including inflammatory cytokines, prostanoids (PGs) and nitrogen monoxide (NO). These substances may regulate not only smooth muscle cells but also autonomic nerves and the ICC directly or indirectly by modifying the crosstalk between these cells. For a better understanding of the functions of the digestive tract, it is quite important to clarify the roll of crosstalk between smooth muscles, the ICC, nerves and macrophages. |