Crohn’s disease Increased gut permeability in Crohn’s disease: is TNF the link?

Evidence now implicates tumour necrosis factor a in global impairment of intestinal barrier function, and may be the link between the leaky gut and Crohn’s disease I ntestinal epithelial barrier function and Crohn’s disease are intimately related. An impaired barrier in asso-ciation with active inflammation leads to increased exposure of the mucosal innate and acquired immune system to proinflammatory molecules. This has been implicated as a major driving force for mucosal inflammation. In active disease, macromolecules can permeate the barrier at an increased rate via, fo