title: The cell biology of the intestinal epithelium and its relation to inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: The epithelial layer of our intestines must meet two opposing requirements. On one hand it must allow for efficient uptake of nutrients and fluids, on the other hand it is a vital defence barrier between the milieu interior and the milieu exterior. In contrast to the lung that by virtue of cilia movement is kept virtually sterile, the gut epithelium is confronted by a stupendous microbiological load and a substantial xenobiotic challenge. The efficiency by which our intestinal epithelium manages to deal with the challenge of efficient nutrient absorption while simultaneously fulfilling its barrier function is testimony to what the forces of evolution can accomplish. Importantly, our understanding as to how our gut epithelial compartment manages this balancing act is now rapidly emerging, answering one of the oldest questions in cell biology. Importantly, when aberrations in this balance occur, for instance as a consequence genetic polymorphisms, increased propensity to develop chronic inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease is the result. Thus the knowledge on intestinal cell biology and biochemistry is not only of academic interest but may also aid design of novel avenues for the rational treatment of mucosal disease.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC - University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Department Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J Jasper
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Deuring
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Haar
authors.forename: Ernst J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kuipers
authors.forename: Maikel P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Peppelenbosch
authors.forename: C Janneke
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: van der Woude
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003585:Cell Biology; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D054892:Metagenome