Intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis

Intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis refers to the programmed cell death of IECs, a crucial mechanism for maintaining the homeostasis, integrity, and renewal of the gut barrier. Apoptosis allows for the recognition and silent removal of senescent or damaged cells without triggering inflammation, facilitates immune tolerance in the gut, and is balanced with cell division to preserve tissue architecture. Dysregulation of this process contributes to several diseases, notably inflammatory bowel disease, where excessive or insufficient IEC apoptosis is linked to barrier dysfunction and pathogenic inflammation. While apoptosis in IECs involves common molecular mediators like caspase-3, caspase-7, and TNF pathways, it is itself not a discrete molecular target but an endpoint influenced by various upstream signals and therapeutic interventions

Other names

IEC apoptosisapoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells