New approaches to the study of human pediatric disease.
The intestinal epithelium may modulate childhood gastrointestinal disease activity, particularly in chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The epithelium is in direct contact with the intestinal lumen and is ideally placed to act as a communication between the intestinal environment and the immune cells of the mucosa. Interaction is possible through the production of cytokines by enterocytes and the expression of surface molecules on the basolateral membrane. The study of how luminal contents can modulate enterocyte gene expression is central to this process, but the molecular mechanisms by which such interactions occur are not well understood. This review discusses possible molecular pathways between the intestinal lumen and the enterocyte and how they can be examined experimentally. Finally, the importance of enterocyte gene expression in human health and disease is reviewed.
Sanderson
I R
IR
Developmental Gastroenterology Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital-East, Charlestown 02129-2060.
D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004848:Epithelium; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases