Impact of Epithelial Cell Shedding on Intestinal Homeostasis
The gut barrier acts as a first line of defense in the body, and plays a vital role in nutrition and immunoregulation. A layer of epithelial cells bound together via intercellular junction proteins maintains intestinal barrier integrity. Based on a tight equilibrium between cell extrusion and cell r...
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/8/4160 |
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author | Phuong A. Ngo Markus F. Neurath Rocío López-Posadas |
author_facet | Phuong A. Ngo Markus F. Neurath Rocío López-Posadas |
author_sort | Phuong A. Ngo |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The gut barrier acts as a first line of defense in the body, and plays a vital role in nutrition and immunoregulation. A layer of epithelial cells bound together via intercellular junction proteins maintains intestinal barrier integrity. Based on a tight equilibrium between cell extrusion and cell restitution, the renewal of the epithelium (epithelial turnover) permits the preservation of cell numbers. As the last step within the epithelial turnover, cell shedding occurs due to the pressure of cell division and migration from the base of the crypt. During this process, redistribution of tight junction proteins enables the sealing of the epithelial gap left by the extruded cell, and thereby maintains barrier function. Disturbance in cell shedding can create transient gaps (leaky gut) or cell accumulation in the epithelial layer. In fact, numerous studies have described the association between dysregulated cell shedding and infection, inflammation, and cancer; thus epithelial cell extrusion is considered a key defense mechanism. In the gastrointestinal tract, altered cell shedding has been observed in mouse models of intestinal inflammation and appears as a potential cause of barrier loss in human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Despite the relevance of this process, there are many unanswered questions regarding cell shedding. The investigation of those mechanisms controlling cell extrusion in the gut will definitely contribute to our understanding of intestinal homeostasis. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge about intestinal cell shedding under both physiological and pathological circumstances. |
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format | Article |
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institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:34:01Z |
publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
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series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
spelling | doaj.art-186f0a0e71514eb28828646cd76350f12023-11-30T21:14:29ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-04-01238416010.3390/ijms23084160Impact of Epithelial Cell Shedding on Intestinal HomeostasisPhuong A. Ngo0Markus F. Neurath1Rocío López-Posadas2Department of Medicine 1, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, GermanyDepartment of Medicine 1, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, GermanyDepartment of Medicine 1, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, GermanyThe gut barrier acts as a first line of defense in the body, and plays a vital role in nutrition and immunoregulation. A layer of epithelial cells bound together via intercellular junction proteins maintains intestinal barrier integrity. Based on a tight equilibrium between cell extrusion and cell restitution, the renewal of the epithelium (epithelial turnover) permits the preservation of cell numbers. As the last step within the epithelial turnover, cell shedding occurs due to the pressure of cell division and migration from the base of the crypt. During this process, redistribution of tight junction proteins enables the sealing of the epithelial gap left by the extruded cell, and thereby maintains barrier function. Disturbance in cell shedding can create transient gaps (leaky gut) or cell accumulation in the epithelial layer. In fact, numerous studies have described the association between dysregulated cell shedding and infection, inflammation, and cancer; thus epithelial cell extrusion is considered a key defense mechanism. In the gastrointestinal tract, altered cell shedding has been observed in mouse models of intestinal inflammation and appears as a potential cause of barrier loss in human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Despite the relevance of this process, there are many unanswered questions regarding cell shedding. The investigation of those mechanisms controlling cell extrusion in the gut will definitely contribute to our understanding of intestinal homeostasis. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge about intestinal cell shedding under both physiological and pathological circumstances.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/8/4160epithelial cell sheddingcell extrusionleaky gutinflammatory bowel disease (IBD)colorectal cancer |
spellingShingle | Phuong A. Ngo Markus F. Neurath Rocío López-Posadas Impact of Epithelial Cell Shedding on Intestinal Homeostasis International Journal of Molecular Sciences epithelial cell shedding cell extrusion leaky gut inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) colorectal cancer |
title | Impact of Epithelial Cell Shedding on Intestinal Homeostasis |
title_full | Impact of Epithelial Cell Shedding on Intestinal Homeostasis |
title_fullStr | Impact of Epithelial Cell Shedding on Intestinal Homeostasis |
title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Epithelial Cell Shedding on Intestinal Homeostasis |
title_short | Impact of Epithelial Cell Shedding on Intestinal Homeostasis |
title_sort | impact of epithelial cell shedding on intestinal homeostasis |
topic | epithelial cell shedding cell extrusion leaky gut inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) colorectal cancer |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/8/4160 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT phuongango impactofepithelialcellsheddingonintestinalhomeostasis AT markusfneurath impactofepithelialcellsheddingonintestinalhomeostasis AT rociolopezposadas impactofepithelialcellsheddingonintestinalhomeostasis |