Enteric glial cells: new players in gastrointestinal motility?

The enteric glial cells, in addition to being support structures for the enteric nervous system, have many other additional roles, such as modulators for the homeostasis of enteric neurons, cells involved in enteric neurotransmission and antigen-presenting cells. Moreover, in the last years, data have been accumulating that demonstrate a possible active role of these cells in the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal motor activity. Thus, as also shown by recent evidence in both experimental animal models, and in some human diseases, alterations of enteric glial cells might have some role in the development of intestinal motor abnormalities.