Intestinal mucosal barrier (IMB) (IMB)

The intestinal mucosal barrier is a complex, multi-layered physiological system that serves as the primary interface between the host and the external environment of the gut lumen (Vancamelbeke & Vermeire, 2017). It consists of a biochemical layer of mucus, primarily composed of the gel-forming mucin MUC2, and a physical layer of intestinal epithelial cells held together by apical junctional complexes, including tight junctions, adherens junctions, and desmosomes (Turner, 2009). This barrier is essential for the selective absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes while simultaneously preventing the translocation of pathogens, toxins, and dietary antigens into the systemic circulation (Okumura & Takeda, 2017). Dysfunction of the intestinal barrier, characterized by increased permeability or "leaky gut," is a critical factor in the pathogenesis of various conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, and metabolic syndrome (Fasano, 2011). Therapeutic interventions aim to restore barrier integrity through the modulation of tight junction proteins, such as zonulin, or by enhancing the protective mucus layer and promoting epithelial repair (Groschwitz & Hogan, 2009).

Other names

Host intestinal barrier and mucus layerGut barrierIntestinal barrierMucosal barrierGastrointestinal barrierMucus layer

Modulation of tight junction proteins, stimulation of mucin secretion, and promotion of epithelial cell proliferation and repair.