[Epithelial barrier of mucous membranes in the course of chronic inflammation].

The barrier function of the epithelium was studied immunohistochemically, electron microscopically and autoradiographically in 105 bronchial biopsies and 1140 biopsies of the stomach and intestinal mucosa in the course of chronic inflammation. The role of the transitory and local deficiency of SIgA and immunocomplex reactions in the morphogenesis of the permeability increase of the epithelial barrier in inflammation was established. Structural equivalents of the plastic deficiency appearing in the chronization of the inflammation and reflecting the distortion and exhaustion of the regeneration and immunity reaction as a basis of atrophy were demonstrated in the epitheliocytes and immunocompetent cells. The atrophy is defined as a reestablishment of the mucous epithelial barrier at the expense of other functions of mucous membranes, namely immune and mucous forming ones.