AGA To Divide or Not to Divide: Enteric Neurogenesis in the Adult Gut

Society: AGA

Impaired development or degeneration of enteric neurons causes significant morbidity in Hirschsprung's disease, aging, gastroparesis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Potential avenues for regenerative therapies depend on the generation of new neurons in vitro or in vivo. Over the past decade, several mechanisms have been proposed to mitigate neuron loss in response to injury including on-demand differentiation from glial cells and continuous neurogenesis, which could be harnessed for therapeutic purposes. However, these mechanisms have been subject to ongoing debate. This session will bring together investigators with active research and major contributions to the field to discuss these mechanisms, their significance, and utility for future regenerative therapies. To understand the need for regenerative therapies for enteric neuromuscular diseases. To review enteric glia-enteric neuron relationship in the context of neurogenesis. To discuss the proliferative potential of enteric neurons and glia.