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Updated: May 22, 2026
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Published on: November 18, 2022
Intestinal barrier function in health and gastrointestinal disease
M Camilleri1, K Madsen, R Spiller
1Clinical Enteric Neuroscience Translational and Epidemiological Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Neurogastroenterology and Motility
|May 16, 2012
Summary
Intestinal barrier defects contribute to gastrointestinal (GI) diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This review examines how gut permeability and barrier function relate to IBS pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Intestinal barrier dysfunction is linked to various GI diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Increased intestinal permeability is increasingly recognized as a pathogenic factor in these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a translational review of the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms regulating intestinal barrier function in IBS.
- To critically assess the role of intestinal barrier dysfunction in functional GI disorders, specifically IBS.
Main Methods:
- Summarizing the components of the intestinal barrier, including the tight junction complex.
- Reviewing in vitro and in vivo methods for assessing gut permeability.
- Critically evaluating recent research from animal models and human studies.
Main Results:
- The review synthesizes current knowledge on intestinal barrier regulation and its disruption.
- Evidence is appraised regarding whether barrier dysfunction is a primary cause of IBS.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal barrier function is crucial for GI health and its defects are implicated in IBS.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the causal relationship between barrier dysfunction and functional GI disorders like IBS.
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