Intestinal neuron-associated macrophages in health and disease

Neuron-macrophage cross-talk in the intestine plays a crucial role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and the modulation of immune responses throughout life. Here, we describe how gut neuron-macrophage interactions shift macrophage phenotype and function from early development to adulthood and how this cross-talk modulates the macrophage function in response to infection and inflammation. We highlight how a neural microenvironment instructs a neuron-associated macrophage phenotype in the gut and show that their phenotype may resemble nerve-associated macrophages in other organs. Finally, we note that the loss of neuron-associated macrophages or a shift in their phenotype can contribute to enteric neurodegeneration in the gastrointestinal tract, causing gut motility disorders.