Gaps In Intestinal Barrier Could Cause Crohn's Disease

[Mazen]

This is from 2005, but it is interesting:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050917085509.htm

ScienceDaily (Sep. 18, 2005) — LIVERPOOL, UK -- 15 September 2005: Scientists at the University of Liverpool believe gaps in the intestinal barrier could be a cause of inflammatory diseases of the gut such as Crohn's Disease

The human bowel is lined with millions of projections called villi which increase the surface area of the intestine to allow for the efficient absorption of nutrients. The villi are covered in epithelial cells which are constantly renewed -- around a thousand billion cells are shed from the top of the villi every day.

Professor Watson and his team found that this renewal process leaves 'gaps' in the lining of the bowel which, in healthy tissue, are immediately filled with a glue-like substance that plugs the gaps. The research team, discovering these gaps for the first time, found that around 3% of the bowel's surface area is covered in this substance. It was previously assumed that the lining of the intestine was a continuous sheet of cells.

Professor Watson said: "We suspect that patients with inflammatory disease may not have the same ability to plug the gaps left by the cell renewal process -- meaning that bacteria can seep through the lining of the intestine. Understanding this cell shedding process may lead to new treatments for inflammatory bowel disease."

 

[D Bergy]

I agree that there is gaps. I also think the gaps are caused by bacterial infection. Certain strains of E-Coli are the one proposed to weaken the barrier. This process only gets worse with additional pathogens eating away at the lining. H-Pylori, MAP, Fungus, Etc.

Dan

 

[AIjen]

All I can see is that DanActive commercial with the little purple ball thingies going through the holes in the intestinal wall.....................I have a hard time grasping that commercial, but I suppose anything is possible.

DaaanActiiiiiive ) (I'd put musical notes there if I knew how)

 

[D Bergy]

That explains those Purple Balls in the toilet. I did not want to mention them out of fear I was nuts. Now it all makes perfect sense.

Dan

 

[AIjen]

Ha ha! Then I guess you need to start taking DanActive - when you take it, you get something like chainmail lining your intestines. The little purple balls then bounce off it and life is good!

Somehow I'm not sure it's that easy with us though or we'd all be cured!

Like I said, it's an intersting concept,I just can't grasp it. Probably because if anything seeps out of your intestinal walls, you are in big trouble. It would be nice to find the exact cause some day though so we can find the exact cure, huh?

 

[kello82]

isnt this called "leaky gut syndrome"?
ive heard of that before, and it sounds pretty much identical to what we're talking about here.

 

[D Bergy]

Yes, It is leaky gut. I looked into it once because it sounded kind of bogus.

It is an actual condition and the amount of leakage can be measured. I do not think most doctors take it very seriously, but it is a real condition. It is thought that the leaky gut could be the cause of some allergies.

Dan