Mimicking the Intestinal Host-Pathogen Interactions in a 3D In Vitro Model: The Role of the Mucus Layer.

ABSTRACT: The intestinal mucus lines the luminal surface of the intestinal epithelium. This mucus is a dynamic semipermeable barrier and one of the first-line defense mechanisms against the outside environment, protecting the body against chemical, mechanical, or biological external insults. At the same time, the intestinal mucus accommodates the resident microbiota, providing nutrients and attachment sites, and therefore playing an essential role in the host-pathogen interactions and gut homeostasis. Underneath this mucus layer, the intestinal epithelium is organized into finger-like protrusions called villi and invaginations called crypts. This characteristic 3D architecture is known to influence the epithelial cell differentiation and function. However, when modelling in vitro the intestinal host

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Diaz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9331835 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature