BACKGROUND Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of gut-brain interaction and is characterized by chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Current evidence indicates that immune activation and autoantibody production contribute to IBS pathogenesis. However, the mechanisms by which autoantibodies affect the enteric nervous system and contribute to IBS-related symptoms are poorly understood. AIM To investigate the role of anti-HuD autoantibodies in enteric neuronal apoptosis