MELBOURNE, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Researchers in Australia have found that even modest reductions in the cellular recycling protein BECLIN1 can significantly weaken the gut's protective barrier, increasing susceptibility to inflammation and disease.
Scientists showed that the BECLIN1 protein is a key player in the body's process for clearing out damaged cells and recycling cellular components (autophagy) and is present on the cells that form the gut's protective barrier, said a statement released by Australia's La Trobe University on Monday.
A healthy intestine depends on a protective barrier that shields the body from gut contents. When this barrier is weakened, the intestine becomes more vulnerable to inflammation and damage, according to the study published in Cell Death & Disease.
Using preclinical models, the team demonstrated that lower levels of BECLIN1 impaired mucus-producing cells that form the gut's protective lining.
"We found that BECLIN1 acts like a dimmer switch for the intestine's resilience. Turning the switch down doesn't immediately cause disease, but it weakens the cells that produce the gut's protective mucus barrier, leaving the intestine far less able to cope with stress," said Juliani Juliani, the study's first author from La Trobe University.
Previous work had shown that completely removing BECLIN1 leads to "catastrophic intestinal barrier failure," with even subtle decreases, such as seen in some other diseases, including cancer, eroding the gut's natural defenses and increasing susceptibility to inflammation, Juliani said.
The findings help explain why some people are more prone to gut inflammation than others. Chronic inflammation is a major driver of bowel cancer development, researchers said, adding that identifying early biological changes that weaken the gut barrier could provide new opportunities to "intervene before irreversible damage occurs." ■