http://www.medicinaeinformazione.com/ / medicinaeinformazione A chronic inflammatory state of the intestine can be responsible for many more or less severe pathologies and not only of the gastrointestinal tract, but what can cause this inflammatory state that has the consequence of activating an immune response? Surely the composition of the microbiota, this organ formed by bacteria, viruses and fungi that colonizes our entire organism, but also what is called intestinal permeability and which is linked to the passage through the cells of the intestine of essential nutrients but also of pathogens and allergens. But what can alter the composition of the microbiota and intestinal permeability? And how are they linked to each other in determining a state of health (eubiosis) or disease (dysbiosis)? We asked Prof. Antonio Gasbarrini, Director of the Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Unit at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, who explained to us how intestinal permeability allows us to absorb nutrients that pass through the intestine, and this is done by intestinal cells (which in the small intestine are called enterocytes) that are joined together like a fence but between one and the other have junctions that open to let the nutrients necessary for our health pass through (and which have a circadian rhythm with respect to our eating habits, that is, they open at the times when we usually eat). But this permeability must be selective to prevent pathogens from entering and when, for some pathological conditions, permeability is excessive, we have what is called hyper-permeability with the consequence that substances that can cause inflammation, allergies... also pass through the barrier and bacteria, viruses, fungi that make up the microbiota also pass through the barrier and the more the microbiota is damaged, the more it can contribute to an inflammatory state. There are many pathologies that can contribute to hyper-permeability, such as gastroenteritis caused by viruses and drugs, heart failure, cirrhosis, respiratory failure, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, allergies, diverticula, an exaggerated intake of proton pump inhibitors, cystic fibrosis... and as a consequence there is a defect in the absorption of nutrients (the surface of the cells is full of enzymes which, once the surface has been damaged by hyper-permeability, lose the ability to degrade some substances, an example above all the loss of enzymes that degrade lactose or other sugars or nickel, with the consequence of intolerances and allergies). But even a damaged microbiota can cause hyper-permeability and pass the barrier causing damage, so it is essential to be able to have a healthy microbiota, being among other things responsible for the development of our immune system, the metabolism of the onset of insulin resistance (therefore obesity and diabetes) gastritis, tooth decay, vaginitis, tumors (since it is an activator of the inflammatory process that is at the base of many tumors). Read all: http://www.medicinaeinformazione.com/...