title: Diet, microbiome, and the intestinal epithelium: an essential triumvirate?
abstract: The intestinal epithelium represents a critical barrier protecting the host against diverse luminal noxious agents, as well as preventing the uncontrolled uptake of bacteria that could activate an immune response in a susceptible host. The epithelial monolayer that constitutes this barrier is regulated by a meshwork of proteins that orchestrate complex biological function such as permeability, transepithelial electrical resistance, and movement of various macromolecules. Because of its key role in maintaining host homeostasis, factors regulating barrier function have attracted sustained attention from the research community. This paper will address the role of bacteria, bacterial-derived metabolism, and the interplay of dietary factors in controlling intestinal barrier function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, CB 7032, 103 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Javier Rivera
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: Victoria Susan
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Conlin
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jobin
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D054892:Metagenome; D019936:Probiotics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use