The enteric nervous system (ENS) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract interacts with the local immune system bidirectionally. Recent publications have demonstrated that such interactions can maintain normal GI functions during homeostasis and contribute to pathological symptoms during infection and inflammation. Infection can also induce long-term changes of the ENS resulting in the development of post-infectious GI disturbances. In this review, we discuss how the ENS can regulate and be regulated by immune responses and how such interactions control whole tissue physiology. We also address the requirements for the proper regeneration of the ENS and restoration of GI function following the resolution of infection.

胃肠道 (GI) 的肠神经系统 (ENS) 与局部免疫系统双向相互作用。最近的出版物表明，这种相互作用可以在体内平衡期间维持正常的 GI 功能，并在感染和炎症期间导致病理症状。感染还可以引起 ENS 的长期变化，从而导致感染后胃肠道紊乱的发展。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了 ENS 如何调节免疫反应并被免疫反应调节，以及这种相互作用如何控制整个组织生理学。我们还解决了在感染消退后正确再生 ENS 和恢复 GI 功能的要求。