Specialized enteric glial cells coordinate intestinal motility [MERSCOPE]

Enteric glia are the predominant cell type in the enteric nervous system yet their identities and roles in gastrointestinal function are not well classified. Using an optimized single nucleus RNA-sequencing method, we identified distinct molecular classes of enteric glia and defined their morphological and spatial diversity. Our findings revealed a functionally specialized class of enteric glial cells that we call “hub cells.” Hub cells retain dual functionality: they generate neurons and glia and act as force transducers to regulate intestinal physiology. Deletion of the mechanosensory ion channel PIEZO2 from adult enteric glial hub cells, but not other subtypes of enteric glia, led to defects in intestinal motility and gastric emptying in mice. These results provide insight into the multifaceted functions of different enteric glial cell subtypes in gut health and emphasize that therapies targeting enteric glia could advance the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. MERSCOPE imaging of duodenum and colon processed and imaged simultaneously from 2 biological replicates