Peripheral glial cells are the non-neuronal component of the peripheral nervous system and were traditionally considered to play mainly supportive roles. However, recent studies have revealed unexpected heterogeneity and immune-modulatory functions of peripheral glia in certain tissues, particularly enteric glia in the gut. Whether peripheral glial cells play similar roles in other barrier tissues remains poorly understood.

The lung is a major mucosal barrier and a critical site of immune defence, yet the organisation and function of peripheral glial cells in the lung are largely uncharacterised. In particular, little is known about how lung-associated glial cells develop, how they are maintained during homeostasis, or whether they contribute to immune responses and disease.

Here, we present early work aimed at characterising peripheral glial cells in the lung across development and homeostasis. We describe the spatial organisation and cellular composition of the pulmonary glial network across distinct anatomical regions, including airways and parenchyma. Using single-cell RNA sequencing analyses, we begin to define the molecular features of lung-associated glial populations and explore potential functional states. We additionally perform preliminary analyses to assess glial responses in the context of infection.

Together, this work represents an initial step toward defining a previously undercharacterised cell population in the lung and lays the foundation for future studies investigating the roles of peripheral glial cells in lung development, homeostasis, and inflammatory disease.