title: Intestinal stem cells and intestinal homeostasis in health and in inflammation: A review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human intestine is a complex group of organs, highly specialized in processing food and providing nutrients to the body. It is under constant threat from microbials and toxins and has therefore developed a number of protective mechanisms. One important mechanism is the constant shedding of epithelial cells into the lumen; another is the production and maintenance of a double-layered mucous boundary in which there is continuous sampling of the luminal microbiota and a persistent presence of antimicrobial enzymes. However, the gut needs commensal bacteria to effectively break down food into absorbable nutrients, which necessitates constant communication between the luminal bacteria and the intestinal immune cells in homeostasis. Disruption of homeostasis, for whatever reason, will give rise to (chronic) inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both medical and surgical management of this disruption is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Surgery Department, Oxford University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom. Electronic address: bobbybloemendaal@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Alexander L A
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bloemendaal
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Surgery Department, Oxford University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicolas C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Buchs
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Surgery Department, Oxford University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Surgery Department, Oxford University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Guy
mesh_terms: D001065:Appendix / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*