Nutritional Keys for Intestinal Barrier Modulation

Abstract

The intestinal tract represents the largest interface between the external environment and the human body. Nutrient uptake mostly happens in the intestinal tract, where the epithelial surface is constantly exposed to dietary antigens. Since inflammatory response toward these antigens may be deleterious for the host, a plethora of protective mechanisms take place to avoid or attenuate local damage. For instance, the intestinal barrier is able to elicit a dynamic response that either promotes or impairs luminal antigens adhesion and crossing. Regulation of intestinal barrier is crucial to control intestinal permeability whose increase is associated with chronic inflammatory conditions. The cross talk among bacteria, immune, and dietary factors is able to modulate the mucosal barrier function, as well as the intestinal permeability. Several nutritional products have recently been proposed as regulators of the epithelial barrier, even if their effects are in part contradictory. At the same time, the metabolic function of the microbiota generates new products with different effects based on the dietary content. Besides conventional treatments, novel therapies based on complementary nutrients are now growing. Fecal therapy has been recently used for the clinical treatment of refractory Clostridium difficile infection instead of the classical antibiotic therapy. In the present review, we will outline the epithelial response to nutritional components derived from dietary intake and microbial fermentation focusing on the consequent effects on the integrity of the epithelial barrier.

Chronic early life stress induced by limited bedding and nesting (LBN) material in rodents: critical considerations of methodology, outcomes and translational potential

“…Female pups were not affected by LBN prior to weaning (Moussaoui, et al, 2016) although at weaning, the increase in permeability was observed in both sexes but to a greater extent in PND21 female pups. Diet and luminal factors (nutrients, bacteria, and bacterial products) can exert both beneficial and deleterious influences on the intestinal barrier (De Santis, Cavalcanti, Mastronardi, Jirillo, & Chieppa, 2015; Ulluwishewa et al, 2011; Winter, 2006). Food in the gut lumen is an important stimulus to mucosal cell growth.…”

Leaky Gut As a Danger Signal for Autoimmune Diseases

“…A recent review by De Santis et al detailed many dietary factors that may modulate the intestinal barrier (83). Here, we review some recent publications and emphasize the effects of diet-induced alterations of gut microbiota on compromising the gut barrier function.…”

The Modulation Effect of Triglyceride Type and Phospholipids Type ω-3 LCPUFA on Mice Gut Microbiota

“…Akkermansia muciniphila is a mucin-degrading bacterium that resides in the mucus layer [15]. Recently some studies have demonstrated that A. muciniphila administration increased the intestinal levels of endocannabinoids that control inflammation, the gut barrier and gut peptide secretion [16]. Lactococcus lactis is a food-grade, Gram-positive lactic acid bacterium that is a harmless food industry bacterium, which has been used extensively for producing a variety of peptides, proteins, and oral vaccines.…”