The leaky gut in IBS – role of mast cells

What is it about?

We are familiar with leaky pipes… but the gut may also become ‘leaky’ allowing inappropriate access of substances from inside the gut (e.g. digested products, bacteria) to leak through the gut and trigger inflammatory responses. This ‘leaky gut’ or ‘increased intestinal permeability’ has been documented in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Our study showed that a low level of a protein in the gut wall (JAM-A) increased leakiness and was associated with more severe IBS symptoms.

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Why is it important?

These findings may help scientists develop better treatments for IBS symptoms, for example, directed at enhancing proteins that help preserve the gut wall integrity and combat ‘leakiness’. Or by targeting the factors that may have a role in causing this ‘leakiness’, such as the immune cells (mast cells) implicated in this study. Further work is needed, however, to confirm this study’s findings and better understand how it relates to IBS symptoms.