The gastro-intestinal barrier is comprised of both physical and chemical barriers that separate host tissues from the intestinal lumen. Maintaining a strong physical barrier between luminal contents such as microbes, food and bacterial borne antigens, is important in maintaining immune homeostasis.
The intestinal physical barrier consists of a monolayer of epithelial cells interconnected by tight junction protein complexes. Damage to tight junction complexes results in the translocation of microbes and microbial antigens (referred to as Microbe Associated Molecular Patterns (MAMPs)) into the systemic circulation, leading to hyperinflammation and organ specific immune dysfunction.
