Meenakshi Rao1 and Brian D. Gulbransen2 1Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA 2Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA Correspondence: meenakshi.raochildrens.harvard.edu; gulbransmsu.edu

Enteric glia are a unique type of peripheral neuroglia that accompany neurons in the enteric nervous system (ENS) of the digestive tract. The ENS displays integrative neural circuits that are capable of governing moment-to-moment gut functions independent of input from the central nervous system. Enteric glia are interspersed with neurons throughout these intrinsic gut neural circuits and are thought to fulfill complex roles directed at maintaining homeostasis in the neuronal microenvironment and at neuroeffector junctions in the gut. Changes to glial functions contribute to a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases, but the precise roles of enteric glia in gut physiology and pathophysiology are still under examination. This review summarizes current concepts regarding enteric glial development, diversity, and functions in health and disease.