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The intestinal epithelium, despite being only a single layer of cells, plays a crucial role in controlling the access of potential antigens and pathogens while simultaneously facilitating the digestive absorption of dietary nutrients. It is aided this dual role by intercellular tight junctions (i.e., adhesive plasma membrane structures) between enterocytes that restrict the passage of even very small (2-kDa) molecules while simultaneously walling the lamina propria from the lumen (7).
A healthy intestinal epithelium is characterized by an outer and inner Intestinal Epithelial Barrier / Mucosal Barrier / Mucus Layer, which acts as a phys…