HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (4) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Canny, G. Articles by Colgan, S. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Canny, G. Articles by Colgan, S. P.

THEMES

Events at the Host-Microbial Interface of the Gastrointestinal Tract I. Adaptation to a microbial world: role of epithelial bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein

Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

Epithelial cells of many mucosal organs have adapted to coexist with microbes and microbial products. In general, most studies suggest that epithelial cells benefit from interactions with commensal microorganisms present at the lumenal surface. However, potentially injurious molecules found in this microenvironment also have the capacity to elicit local inflammatory responses and even systemic disease. In this environment, the epithelium has evolved effective mechanisms to cope with microbial products and to provide appropriate responses to potential pathogens. Although our understanding of these mechanisms is clearly in its infancy, a number of recent findings provide insight into phenotypic characteristics that allow for this discrimination. Here, we briefly review some of these mechanisms, with particular attention to epithelial expression of the anti-infective molecule bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein.

mucosa; infection; inflammation; eicosanoid