Stress-induced disruption of colonic epithelial barrier: role of interferon-gamma and myosin light chain kinase in mice.

Background & Aims: Stressful life events are supposed to be involved in various diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases and irritable bowel syndrome. Impairment of the intestinal epithelial barrier function is a suspected consequence of stress, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to determine the mechanisms through which stress modulates the colonic epithelial barrier.