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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;1033:151–183. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-66653-2_8

Figure 2. Schematic representation of the gut epithelial layer in healthy gut vs dysbiosis.

Figure 2

In the normal state, the mucus layer prevents the interaction between the gut microbiota and the intestinal epithelial barrier. Underneath the epithelial layer is the lamina propria. The lamina propria is composed of connective tissue and cells of the innate and adaptive immune system: mast cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes (T and B). The composition of the intestinal epithelial layer can be influenced by many factors including antibiotic treatment, psychological and physical stress, radiation, age, and diet. This can lead to alterations in bacterial metabolism as well as overgrowth of potential pathogenic bacteria. This dysbiosis is associated with increased levels of permeability, bacterial translocation and inflammation.