Border Control: The Role of the Microbiome in Regulating Epithelial Barrier Function

• Published in: Cells (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 13; no. 6; p. 477
• Main Authors: Schreiber, Fernanda, Balas, Iulia, Robinson, Matthew J, Bakdash, Ghaith
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.03.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Antigens; auto-immune diseases; Autoimmune diseases; Autoimmune Diseases - metabolism; barrier function; Bond strength; Boundaries; Cells; Cytokines - metabolism; Cytoskeleton; Epithelial cells; Epithelium; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; gut epithelia; Health aspects; Humans; Immune system; infections; inflammatory bowel disease; Intestinal microflora; Intestinal Mucosa - metabolism; Kinases; Metabolic disorders; Metabolites; microbiome; Microbiomes; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Microorganisms; Pathogens; Permeability; Proteins; Review; Therapeutic applications; United Kingdom; gut epithelia; metabolic diseases; infections; microbiome; auto-immune diseases; barrier function; inflammatory bowel disease
• ISSN: 2073-4409; 2073-4409
• DOI: 10.3390/cells13060477

The gut mucosal epithelium is one of the largest organs in the body and plays a critical role in regulating the crosstalk between the resident microbiome and the host. To this effect, the tight control of what is permitted through this barrier is of high importance. There should be restricted passage of harmful microorganisms and antigens while at the same time allowing the absorption of nutrients and water. An increased gut permeability, or "leaky gut", has been associated with a variety of diseases ranging from infections, metabolic diseases, and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases to neurological conditions. Several factors can affect gut permeability, including cytokines, dietary components, and the gut microbiome. Here, we discuss how the gut microbiome impacts the permeability of the gut epithelial barrier and how this can be harnessed for therapeutic purposes.