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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Nov 15, 2013; 4(4): 94-99
Published online Nov 15, 2013. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v4.i4.94
Intestinal barrier: Molecular pathways and modifiers
Min Kyung Jeon, Christina Klaus, Elke Kaemmerer, Nikolaus Gassler
Min Kyung Jeon, Christina Klaus, Elke Kaemmerer, Nikolaus Gassler, Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Author contributions: Jeon MK and Gassler N designed and wrote the article; Klaus C and Kaemmerer E critical reviewed the literature and made technical notes.
Correspondence to: Nikolaus Gassler, MA, Professor, Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany. ngassler@ukaachen.de
Telephone: +49-241-8088897 Fax: +49-241-8082439
Received: June 24, 2013
Revised: August 28, 2013
Accepted: September 3, 2013
Published online: November 15, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: The pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases is associated with important molecular pathways such as Wnt, Notch, Hippo, transforming growth factor-β/bone morphogenetic protein or Hedgehog in controlling cell-fate determination. Here, we discuss how they contribute to homeostasis of intestinal epithelium.