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Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2008; 14(3): 401-407
Published online Jan 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.401
Role of the intestinal barrier in inflammatory bowel disease
Mike G Laukoetter, Porfirio Nava, Asma Nusrat
Mike G Laukoetter, Porfirio Nava, Asma Nusrat, Epithelial Pathobiology Research Unit, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
Mike G Laukoetter, Department of General Surgery, University of Muenster, Muenster 48149, Germany
Correspondence to: Asma Nusrat, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Whitehead Research Building, Room 105E, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States. anusrat@emory.edu
Telephone: +1-404-7278543
Fax: +1-404-7273321
Received: May 17, 2007
Revised: July 10, 2007
Published online: January 21, 2008
Abstract

A critical function of the intestinal mucosa is to form a barrier that separates luminal contents from the interstitium. The single layer of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) serves as a dynamic interface between the host and its environment. Cell polarity and structural properties of the epithelium is complex and is important in the development of epithelial barrier function. Epithelial cells associate with each other via a series of intercellular junctions. The apical most intercellular junctional complex referred to as the Apical Junction Complex (AJC) is important in not only cell-cell recognition, but also in the regulation of paracellular movement of fluid and solutes. Defects in the intestinal epithelial barrier function have been observed in a number of intestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is now becoming evident that an aberrant epithelial barrier function plays a central role in the pathophysiology of IBD. Thus, a better understanding of the intestinal epithelial barrier structure and function in healthy and disease states such as IBD will foster new ideas for the development of therapies for such chronic disorders.

Keywords: Intestine; Barrier function; Tight Junction; Inflammatory bowel disease; Crohn’s disease; Ulcerative colitis