Cytoskeletal Organization and Cell Polarity in the Pathogenesis of Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and affects diverse segments of the entire gastrointestinal tract. Although the underlying causes of CD are not completely known, it is believed that disruption of the intestinal barrier and cell polarity may contribute to pathogenesis. The formation of the intestinal epithelial barrier, which is mainly regulated by cytoskeletal modulations, and apico-basal cell polarity are two major and mutually dependent features of the intestinal epithelial layer. As this layer serves as an important barrier between the external environment and the internal milieu, the defect can start an inflammatory cascade by failing to block the entrance of luminal pathogens and lead to CD. In this review, we highlight the factors and impact of intestinal barrier function and cell polarity in the natural history of CD. The discussion in the present review further strengthens the new challenge in facilitating the development of viable pharmacological targets.