Bacterial Modulation of the Epithelial Barrier in Crohn's Disease

Abstract

Crohn’s Disease is a complex, multifactorial disorder induced by chronic, disproportionate inflammatory responses to the bacteria that reside in the digestive tract. One mechanism by which this inflammatory response is induced is a dysfunctional epithelial barrier, in which bacteria are exposed to the immune system in an unregulated fashion that leads to inflammatory-mediated bowel damage. As discussed in this thesis, the epithelial barrier is regulated by a number of different cell types, receptors, as well as the products of microbial metabolism. Microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, indole derivatives, and secondary bile acids, have recently been elucidated to have significant physiological effects on the epithelial barrier. Thus, microbial metabolites may have useful implications as Crohn’s Disease biomarkers or as therapeutic agents in disease treatment and remediation.