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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2014; 20(32): 11273-11280
Published online Aug 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i32.11273
Published online Aug 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i32.11273
Enteric glial cells and their role in the intestinal epithelial barrier
Yan-Bo Yu, Yan-Qing Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
Author contributions: Yu YB wrote the paper; Li YQ conceived, revised the manuscript and gave the final approval.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, NSFC, No. 81200270; and the Scientific Research Foundation for Outstanding Young Scientist of Shandong Province, No. BS2012SW012
Correspondence to: Yan-Qing Li, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China. liyanqing@sdu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-531-82166012 Fax: +86-531-82166012
Received: January 12, 2014
Revised: March 11, 2014
Accepted: May 12, 2014
Published online: August 28, 2014
Revised: March 11, 2014
Accepted: May 12, 2014
Published online: August 28, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: This review offers a state-of-the-art discussion on the role of enteric glial cells (EGCs), an intriguing population of astrocyte-like cells within the gastrointestinal tract, on the regulation of intestinal epithelial barrier. The discussion will shed light on the novel mechanisms of EGC-intestinal epithelial cells interactions, which is invaluable in ultimately developing new therapeutic tools for the restoration of the intestinal barrier functions.