Fig. 1. Components of the intestinal epithelial barrier. Intestinal homeostasis is maintained by a coordinated interplay of essential components, including the mucus layer, commensal bacteria, epithelial cells, and various immune cells (e.g., dendritic cells, plasma cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes) that reside within the lamina propria. The intestinal epithelium comprises five different cell lineages: absorptive enterocytes, goblet cells, tuft cells, enteroendocrine cells, and Paneth cells. The intricate interactions among these cellular components regulate the complex functions of the gastrointestinal system, ensuring a finely tuned yet resilient homeostasis.
© Prev. Nutr. Food Sci.