[The enteric glia--part of the puzzle in Crohn's disease?].

Enteric glia cells are essential for the mucosal integrity of the gut. A leakage of the epithelial barrier is postulated in Crohn's disease. The role of enteric glia cells in the onset and progress of Crohn's disease is not clear yet. A new approach in the therapy of Crohn's disease is to target "mucosal healing". Since enteric glia cells are an important source of factors that regulate the epithelial barrier function, further research and discussion about this cell entity under therapeutic aspects is urgently necessary.