[Frontiers in Bioscience 16, 2903-2909, June 1, 2011]

Molecular regulation of the intestinal epithelial barrier: implication in human diseases

Zhihua Liu1, Chenzhang Shi 1, Jianjun Yang 1, Peng Zhang 1, Yanlei Ma1, Feng Wang 1, Huanlong Qin1

1Department of Surgery, Shanghai JiaoTong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Probiotics have protective effects on intestinal barrier
4. TJ plays an important role in the maintenance of intestinal barrier function
5. PP2A modulates IEC apoptosis and regeneration
6. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase protects the intestinal barrier function by inhibiting inflammation
7. Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes have anti-infection and protective function on the intestinal barrier
8. Intestinal Stem Cells transplantation for the treatment of intestinal barrier dysfunction
9. Conclusion
10. Acknowledgements
11. References

1. ABSTRACT

Intestinal barrier dysfunction is implicated in the development of various clinical diseases. While the study of intestinal barrier function has traditionally emphasized the impact of intestinal microflora and bacteria, the rapid development of molecular and cellular techniques has helped the recent transition of the field to the molecular regulation of the intestinal epithelial barrier. In this review, we summarized several aspects of recent progress on the molecular regulation of the intestinal epithelial barrier, ranging from the extrinsic factors such as probiotics, intrinsic protein effectors including the tight junction proteins, intestinal alkaline phosphatase and protein phosphatase 2A, to intestinal cell subsets such as intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and intestinal stem cells. Further investigations into the detailed mechanisms underlying the molecular regulation of the intestinal epithelial barrier will enable our manipulation of the factors and cell subsets involved to develop effective approaches to treat intestinal barrier dysfunction associated diseases.