Spontaneous colitis in Muc2-deficient mice reflects clinical and cellular features of active ulcerative colitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The colonic mucus layer plays a critical role in intestinal homeostasis by limiting contact between luminal bacteria and the mucosal immune system. A defective mucus barrier in animal models allows bacterial contact with the intestinal epithelium and results in spontaneous colitis. A defective mucus barrier is also a key feature of active ulcerative colitis (UC). Alterations in the immune compartment due to intestinal bacterial breach in mice lacking the colon mucus barrier have not been characterized and correlated to active UC.

Aims

To characterize alterations in the immune compartment due to intestinal bacterial breach in Muc2-/- mice, which lack the colon mucus barrier, and correlate the findings to active UC.

Methods

Bacterial contact with colon epithe

SUBMITTER: Wenzel UA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4063762 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature