title: Esophageal epithelial resistance.
abstract: Besides its important role of digestion and absorption, esophageal tissue has an essential role as a major barrier against intraluminal pathogens like hostile microorganisms and toxins. This barrier function is achieved via various mechanical, chemical, and immunological mechanisms which are typically altered in inflammatory diseases, thereby causing subsequent damage of the mucosa. In this review we will focus on the main structural and functional barriers of host defense within the esophageal mucosa, including the epithelial layer, membrane-bound and secretory mucins, and different types of defensins. In addition, we will discuss the relevance of biofilm on esophageal tissue and will illustrate the importance of different regulators of intestinal permeability like zonulin and desmosomal components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vieth
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000276:immunology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000143:Acids