Research progress of intestinal barrier and gut microbiota in ulcerative colitis

Abstract:

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease with unknown pathogenesis and increasing incidence. An intact intestinal barrier is essential for maintaining intestinal homeostasis and preventing diseases. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in constituting the intestinal barrier, enhancing the immune response of the intestinal mucosa, and maintaining the intestinal environment. The gut microbiota imbalance can lead to intestinal barrier damage, and both intestinal barrier damage and gut microbiota imbalance are involved in the development of UC. In recent years, increasing studies of UC focused on the intestinal barrier and regulation of gut microbiota have been carried out. This article reviews the components of the intestinal barrier and the role of gut microbiota in UC, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the future research in this field.