Muscularis macrophages: Key players in intestinal homeostasis and disease

摘要: Macrophages residing in the muscularis externa of gastrointestinal tract are highly specialized cells that essential for tissue homeostasis during steady-state conditions as well disease. They characterized by their unique protective functional phenotype is undoubtedly a consequence reciprocal interaction with environment, including enteric nervous system. This macrophage-neuron dictates intestinal motility and promotes tissue-protection injury infection, but can also contribute to damage disorders such post-operative ileus gastroparesis. Although importance macrophages clearly recognized, different aspects these remain largely unexplored origin, longevity instructive signals determine function phenotype. In this review, we will discuss phenotype, functions origin disease conditions. We highlight bidirectional crosstalk neurons potential therapeutic strategies target manipulate restore signature treatment