A critical function of the intestinal mucosa is to form a barrier that separates luminal contents
from the interstitium. This intestinal barrier is compromised in a number of intestinal
diseases, most notably inflammatory bowel disease. In vitro studies have demonstrated that
cytokines elaborated by immune cells can cause the mucosal barrier to become leaky; these
cytokines are known to be increased in intestinal mucosa involved in inflammatory bowel
disease. Detailed information describing the mechanisms by which altered cytokine …