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Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2026; 32(42): 121071
Published online Nov 14, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.121071
Intestinal epithelium impairment in cystic fibrosis: What consequences in clinical practice?
Caroline Carlé, Marie Mittaine, Léa Roditis, Nolwenn Laborde, Frederick Barreau, Emmanuel Mas
Caroline Carlé, University of Toulouse, Department of Immunology Laboratory, Toulouse University Hospital Center, Toulouse 31000, Occitanie, France
Marie Mittaine, Léa Roditis, Nolwenn Laborde, Emmanuel Mas, University of Toulouse, Cystic Fibrosis Reference Center, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse 31000, Occitanie, France
Marie Mittaine, Léa Roditis, University of Toulouse, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergology, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse 31000, Occitanie, France
Nolwenn Laborde, Emmanuel Mas, University of Toulouse, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition and Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse 31000, Occitanie, France
Frederick Barreau, Emmanuel Mas, University of Toulouse, INSERM UMR1220, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse 31024, Occitanie, France
Author contributions: Carlé C, Barreau F and Mas E conceptualized the minireview; Carlé C wrote the paper and created the figures; Barreau F and Mas E provided the input in writing the paper; Mittaine M, Roditis L and Laborde N reviewed and edited the paper; Frederick Barreau and Emmanuel Mas made equal contributions.
AI contribution statement: AI tools were not used by the authors for this article.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest associated with any of the senior author or other coauthors contributed their efforts in this manuscript.
Corresponding author: Emmanuel Mas, Head, Professor, University of Toulouse, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition and Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse 31000, Occitanie, France. mas.e@chu-toulouse.fr
Received: March 23, 2026
Revised: May 18, 2026
Accepted: August 10, 2026
Published online: November 14, 2026
Processing time: 188 Days and 9.7 Hours
Core Tip

Core Tip: Several reviews in the literature consider the role of and impact on the intestines in cystic fibrosis (CF) pathophysiology. The focus of such studies are, however, the gut-lung axis, the intestinal microbiota, the mucus layer, or electrolyte transport. This is the first review to take into account all aspects of the intestinal barrier (microbiota, mucus layer, intestinal epithelium, and immune system) that are altered in CF and may be involved in intestinal inflammation or colorectal cancer. The present review should therefore contribute to knowledge of intestinal pathophysiology in CF and inform the management of patients with gastrointestinal manifestations of CF.

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