Enteric Nervous System Control of Digestive Tract Motility in Health and Disease

Increasing evidence highlights the critical role of the enteric nervous system (ENS) not only in normal digestive physiology but also in a wide spectrum of disorders, ranging from functional and inflammatory conditions to metabolic dysfunction and neurodegenerative conditions.In the digestive tract, motility arises from coordinated interactions between intrinsic enteric circuits and extrinsic autonomic and central pathways, integrating sensory and reflex control with immune–neural crosstalk and microbiota- and nutrient-derived signals. Along the digestive tract, shifting balances of ENS circuits, local reflexes, and brainstem inputs shape region-specific motor programs such as swallowing, vomiting, and defecation. Despite this progress, the integration of these diverse findings remains incomplete, and multidisciplinary efforts are needed to translate basic discoveries into clinical innovation. This Research Topic aims to explore both the physiological mechanisms and the pathophysiological alterations of the ENS that underpin normal digestive tract motility and contribute to various pathological conditions, recognizing the ENS as a possible therapeutic target. We seek to address how enteric neurons and glia control motility in health and disease, and how microbiota-, diet-, immune-, drug-, and brainstem/autonomic signals modulate ENS activity along the digestive tract. A further goal is to promote a translational perspective by highlighting how novel tools can uncover therapeutic targets and guide the development of innovative interventions for gastrointestinal motility disorders. This collection aims to promote the integration of multidisciplinary evidence and stimulate the design of new therapeutic strategies. We welcome manuscripts that explore the molecular, cellular, and integrative mechanisms governing enteric nervous system (ENS) function in digestive tract motility in health and disease, and particularly how these mechanisms can inform innovative therapeutic strategies. Potential areas of interest include, but are not limited to:1. ENS control of digestive tract motility and dysmotility2. ENS-dependent mechanisms integrating esophageal motility and outflow with esophagus-initiated reflexes3. Modulation of ENS neurotransmission and neuromodulation of motility4. ENS and the gut–brain axis5. ENS and metabolic cross-talk6. Microbiota–ENS communication and metabolite-driven neuromodulation7. Molecular mechanisms regulating enteric neuronal, glial, and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) function8. Pharmacological modulation of enteric circuits and digestive tract motility9. Nutrient–ENS interactions and the impact of diet on enteric neurobiology10. ENS alterations in inflammation, metabolic disease, or neurodegeneration11. Advanced experimental approaches to interrogate ENS and SIP–smooth muscle interactions12. Translational insights and emerging therapeutic strategies for motility disorders Topic editors: Eglantina Idrizaj, Maria Caterina Baccari, Ivan M. Lang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76540/enteric-nervous-system-control-of-digestive-tract-motility-in-health-and-disease