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Review
. 2009 Jan 1;14(7):2765-78.
doi: 10.2741/3413.

Mechanism of cytokine modulation of epithelial tight junction barrier

Rana Al-Sadi  1 , Michel Boivin, Thomas Ma
Affiliations
Review

Mechanism of cytokine modulation of epithelial tight junction barrier

Rana Al-Sadi et al. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). .

Abstract

Cytokines play a crucial role in the modulation of inflammatory response in the gastrointestinal tract. Pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin-1beta?IL-1beta?, and interleukin-12 are essential in mediating the inflammatory response, while anti-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-beta are important in the attenuation or containment of inflammatory process. It is increasingly recognized that cytokines have an important physiological and pathological effect on intestinal tight junction (TJ) barrier. Consistent with their known pro-inflammatory activities, pro-inflammatory cytokines cause a disturbance in intestinal TJ barrier, allowing increased tissue penetration of luminal antigens. Recent studies indicate that the inhibition of cytokine induced increase in intestinal TJ permeability has an important protective effect against intestinal mucosal damage and development of intestinal inflammation. In this review, the effects of various pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines on intestinal TJ barrier and the progress into the mechanisms that mediate the cytokine modulation of intestinal TJ barrier are reviewed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proposed role of defective intestinal epithelial tight junction (TJ) barrier in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Interferon-γ induced endocytosis of tight junction proteins. (Reproduced from Ivanov (14), by pending permission)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mechanism of TNF-α induced opening of intestinal tight junction (TJ) barrier.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Extrusion of apoptotic cells from intestinal epithelia. (Reproduced from Madara (56), by permission)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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