Comparative transcriptomics reveals highly conserved regional programs between porcine and human colonic enteric...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gastroenterology
• Comparative transcriptomics

Background:

• The porcine gut is a valuable translational model, but its enteric nervous system molecular profile and human similarity are poorly understood.
• The enteric nervous system in the colon regulates various functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To molecularly profile the porcine enteric nervous system.
• To compare porcine and human colonic transcriptomes for translational relevance.

Main Methods:

• Bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing were used to analyze porcine colonic ganglia.
• Comparative transcriptomics analyzed myenteric ganglia from pigs and humans.

Main Results:

• Distinct transcriptional programs were identified in porcine submucosal and myenteric ganglia.
• Porcine and human myenteric ganglia showed highly conserved transcriptomic responses (>96%) to vagal nerve stimulation.
• Vagal nerve stimulation in pigs revealed conserved inflammatory modulation programs.

Conclusions:

• The porcine proximal and distal colon are valuable predictors in translational studies.
• This study offers a transcriptomic resource for understanding human colonic function and neuromodulation via porcine models.