The enteric nervous system as a regulator of intestinal epithelial barrier function in health and disease KU Leuven
The intestinal epithelia proliferate and differentiate along the crypt villus axis to constitute a barrier cell layer separating some 10¹³ potentially harmful bacteria from a sterile mucosal compartment. Strict regulatory mechanisms are required to maintain a balance between the appropriate uptake of luminal food components and proteins, while constraining the exposure of the mucosal compartment to luminal antigens and microbes. The enteric ...