In vivo transcriptomic, functional, circuit-based, and translational analyses of enteric neurons

Abstract

Enteric neurons (ENs) are interwoven into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where they integrate local and external information to coordinate gut function across diverse cell types. Since EN dysfunction underlies the pathophysiology of multiple GI diseases, targeting relevant EN populations presents a multifaceted therapeutic approach. Despite their importance in essential physiologies, ENs remain underexplored from a transcriptional, circuit-based, and functional perspective. To enable target identification and validation in drug discovery, we leveraged a suite of modern neuroscience tools and profiled ENs. Single-nuclei sequencing, chemogenetics, circuit tracing, and pharmacology resolved how EN populations can modulate GI motility, secretion, food intake, and inflammation. We then determined the extent of conservation between mouse and human EN subsets. This work provides disease-relevant insights into EN cell type- and region-specific functions, lays the methodological groundwork to further probe EN function in vivo, and highlights translational hurdles and opportunities between mouse and human.

Keywords: enteric nervous system; enteric neuron; gastrointestinal motility; gut brain; gut-brain axis; mouse human translation; neuroimmune; satiety; secretory function; single-nuclei sequencing.