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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
05:10
Three-dimensional Quantification of Intestinal Mucus Using Whole-mount Tissue Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2025
Intestinal mucosal barrier function in health and disease
1Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland, MC 1089, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. jturner@bsd.uchicago.edu
Nature Reviews. Immunology
|October 27, 2009
Summary
The intestinal mucosal barrier, crucial for nutrient absorption and defense, is dynamically regulated by physiological and immune signals. Dysfunctional regulation of this barrier can contribute to gut diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Mucosal surfaces form a critical barrier between the external environment and the internal body.
- This barrier must be selectively permeable for nutrient absorption and waste secretion.
- The mucosal epithelium interacts with luminal contents, including dietary antigens and microbial products, and the immune system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss recent advances in understanding the regulation of the intestinal mucosal barrier.
- To explore how this regulation influences mucosal immune responses in the gut.
- To examine the role of barrier dysfunction in disease.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature and discoveries.
- Analysis of physiological and immunological stimuli.
- Examination of evidence linking barrier regulation to immune responses and disease.
Main Results:
- Recent advances have elucidated mechanisms controlling intestinal mucosal barrier regulation.
- Barrier regulation is responsive to both physiological and immunological cues.
- This regulation plays a significant role in shaping gut mucosal immune responses.
Conclusions:
- The intestinal mucosal barrier is under dynamic regulation.
- Dysregulation of the mucosal barrier is implicated in the pathogenesis of gut diseases.
- Understanding these regulatory mechanisms is key to addressing mucosal-related disorders.
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