Title:Pharmacological Targeting of the Inflamed Intestinal Barrier
Volume: 22
Issue: 35
Author(s): Attila E. Farkas and Asma Nusrat
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Epithelium, intercellular junctions, intestinal epithelial barrier function, mucosal inflammation, tight junction, adherens junction,
desmosome.
Abstract: The intestinal epithelium serves as an important barrier between luminal contents
and underlying tissue compartments. Barrier properties are established and maintained by the
multiprotein complexes in the tight junction (TJ), adherens junction (AJ) and desmosomes
(DM). Compromised intestinal epithelial barrier function resulting from changes in junctional
protein expression and organization is associated with exposure to luminal antigens
that result in mucosal inflammation, which in turn further exacerbates the epithelial barrier
compromise. In this review we discuss regulatory mechanisms by which intercellular junction
proteins are influenced by inflammatory mediators to influence intestinal epithelial
barrier function and address potential therapeutic strategies to strengthen the barrier and
restore mucosal homeostasis.