Gastrointestinal tract integrity

Gastrointestinal tract integrity refers to the capacity of the GI tract—particularly the epithelial and mucosal barriers—to maintain its selective permeability, allowing absorption of nutrients while preventing the translocation of harmful bacteria, toxins, and antigens. This integrity depends on complex molecular structures such as tight junction proteins (occludin, claudins, zonula occludens), the mucosal immune system, and the microbiota. Disruption of this barrier is implicated in multiple diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, infections, metabolic and autoimmune disorders, and may serve as a prognostic marker. Loss of GI tract integrity is not a molecular target itself, but rather the result of pathological changes affecting numerous molecular and cellular targets[1][3][5][7].

Other names

Intestinal barrier integrityGut barrier integrityGastrointestinal barrier functionIntestinal permeabilityGut integrity