Negative elongation factor:a key factor in the maintenance of intestinal epithelial barrier integrity

In addition to its physiological function in the uptake of dietary nutrients,the intestinal epithelium constitutes an essential mechanical barrier separating luminal gut content and mucosal microbiota from the inner body.Intestinal epithelial cells(IEC)comprise the frontline of this barrier,the maintenance of which critically depends on the expression of cell-cell junction protein structures,including tight junctions,adherence junctions,desmosomes,and gap junctions,which physically bridge and seal the intercellular niche within the IEC layer.