title: Microbiota controls the homeostasis of glial cells in the gut lamina propria.
abstract: The intrinsic neural networks of the gastrointestinal tract are derived from dedicated neural crest progenitors that colonize the gut during embryogenesis and give rise to enteric neurons and glia. Here, we study how an essential subpopulation of enteric glial cells (EGCs) residing within the intestinal mucosa is integrated into the dynamic microenvironment of the alimentary tract. We find that under normal conditions colonization of the lamina propria by glial cells commences during early postnatal stages but reaches steady-state levels after weaning. By employing genetic lineage tracing, we provide evidence that in adult mice the network of mucosal EGCs is continuously renewed by incoming glial cells originating in the plexi of the gut wall. Finally, we demonstrate that both the initial colonization and homeostasis of glial cells in the intestinal mucosa are regulated by the indigenous gut microbiota.
authors.affiliation: William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University London, London EC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom; Division of Molecular Neurobiology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: p.s.kabouridis@qmul.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Panagiotis S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kabouridis
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Neurobiology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Reena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lasrado
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Neurobiology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCallum
authors.affiliation: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Song Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chng
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute - KNAW and University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hugo J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Snippert
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute - KNAW and University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Clevers
authors.affiliation: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pettersson
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Neurobiology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: vpachni@nimr.mrc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pachnis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D013368:Submucous Plexus / Q000166:cytology*