“…Recent studies have shown an involvement of PI3K in mediating the effects of IFN␥ on epithelial barrier properties (11,15). In contrast, a major role for the most established mediator of IFN␥ signaling, the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1, in epithelial barrier defects has not been confirmed (15,39,57). Here, we show that IFN␥ activates the cellular energy sensor, AMPK, in intestinal epithelial cells and that inhibition of AMPK diminishes the detrimental effect of this inflammatory cytokine on epithelial barrier function.…”