Protection of epithelial tight junction : a new therapeutic approach in the treat- ment of infectious diarrhea

Infectious diarrhea is a major gastrointestinal disease associated with morbidity and/or mortality in many countries. It is now well demonstrated that besides vari- ous modes of single bacterial penetration of epithelial cell or membrane receptor activation the bacterial inva- sion is linked to tight junction (intercellular) opening giving rise to a massive bacterial invasion of cells and submucosal layer (1). This invasion triggers mucosal defense mechanisms including water secretion (diarrhea), stimulation of the local resident immune system and at- traction of circulating immune cells (neutrophils, T-lym- phocytes, macrophages) and phenotypic changes of epi- thelial cells corresponding to an inflammatory reaction (2).