Research on intestinal tight junction barrier dysfunction should be emphasized in burn injury / 中华烧伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Severe burn injury is often accompanied by intestinal epithelial tight junction barrier dysfunction, which is believed to be closely associated with postburn shock, inflammation, hypermetabolism, infection, organ dysfunction etc. Recent studies have documented the critical role of tight junction-associated protein regulation in intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction induced by severe burn injury. Myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation regulated by both myosin light chain kinase, which can phosphorylate MLC directly, and Rho-associated kinase, which can inhibit MLC phosphatase and then induce MLC phosphorylation indirectly, play a critical role in intestinal epithelial tight junction barrier dysfunction which occurs in severe burn injury. Recent advances have provided new insights into the mechanisms and the therapeutic strategies of intestinal epithelial tight junction barrier dysfunction following severe burn injury.