Interaction between food substances and the intestinal epithelium.

The small intestine is an organ responsible for nutrient absorption, barrier functions, signal recognition/transduction, and the production of bioactive compounds. These functions are known to be regulated by such factors as hormones and cytokines, but substances contained in the daily diet are also thought to play roles as major modulators of intestinal functions. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), which form a monolayer covering the inside surface of the intestinal tract, are particularly important in this modulation, because they directly interact with intestinal contents, including food substances, their digests, and gut microbial components. Using cell-based in vitro assays, we investigated the food-IEC interactions at the cellular and molecular levels, and found that a variety of food substances affected the transporter activity, tight junction permeability, metabolic enzyme expression, immune functions, and so on. Modulation of the intestinal functions by dietary substances is therefore essential to promote health.