Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Human Pathology and Aging

The intestinal barrier is a layer that constitutes the most important barrier against the external environment. It can be partially disrupted in several frequent scenarios, leading to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Translocation of intestinal luminal contents into the intestinal mucosa may induce inflammatory disorders and therefore tissue injuries. Disruption of the intestinal barrier may induce local and systemic injuries and may play a role in inflammatory bowel disease, liver diseases, the aging process and in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome, including lung, heart and brain dysfunctions.

Here, we discuss how the maintenance of it selectively permeability is crucial to adequate absorption of nutrients, electrolytes and water while maintaining effective host defense properties in order to avoid intestinal injury, systemic inflammation and distant organ damage.