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Mucosal barriers line the conjunctiva of the eye
and the linings of the oral cavity, nasal cavity, pharyngeal
cavity, tracheobronchial tree, alimentary tract, urinary tract
and genital tract.
Mucosal barriers provide both mechanical and immunological
protection to the internal body environment from external
agents. A thick, healthy layer of mucus can successfully exclude
external agents from entering the internal environment of
the body and wash them out of the body with other eliminated
materials. This is called the “mucosal exclusion principle”.
The mucosal barrier also contains secretory antibodies, principally
IgA and to a lesser extent IgM and IgG, that provide an immunological
barrier to recognize, compartmentalize and process antigens
(proteins) that it is presented with. These secretory antibodies
are formed within plasmacytes (immunocytes) and mature within
lymphatic tissue. A healthy mucosal barrier contains an appropriate
level of secretory antibodies, which readily recognize and
process commonly encountered antigens from dietary proteins
consumed and enteric yeasts and bacteria. With a healthy mucosal
barrier, approximately two percent of encountered antigens
penetrate into the general circulation.
The BHD #304 Mucosal Barrier
Function Profile measures the health of the mucosal barrier
lining of the GI tract from a functional standpoint. A healthy
mucosal barrier will have secretory IgA (sIgA) levels in normal
range and will show normal recognition of food proteins, enteric
yeasts and enteric aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. This means
that IgA, IgM and IgG levels to food proteins, enteric yeasts
and enteric aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are all within
normal range.
If the mucosal barrier has shut down, the results
for IgA, IgM and IgG levels to food proteins, enteric yeasts
and enteric aerobic and anaerobic bacteria will all be <400.
A continuum of events can lead to the complete shutdown of
the mucosal barrier. When a healthy mucosal barrier is first
challenged by an infectious agent, sIgA rises and elevations
of specific antibodies may occur. At this point the antigen
load is compartmentalized within the GI tract. As the infection
begins to overwhelm the mucosal barrier defenses, the humoral
immune system becomes more involved.
As an infection overpowers the mucosal barrier defenses,
at some point the tight junctions between the intestinal cells
open up and antigen penetration into the general circulation
increases resulting in an increase in allergy and inflammation.
Also if any one of the three antibodies (either IgA, IgM or
IgG) are elevated in each of the four compartments on the BHD #304 Mucosal Barrier Function
Profile (dietary proteins, yeasts, anaerobic bacteria,
and aerobic bacteria) this would indicate leaky gut (increased
permeability).
If no intervention occurs, eventually the mucosal immune
response begins to weaken and can eventually shut down. As
time goes on it loses its ability to recognize and process
antigens properly. Ever increasing antigen penetration can
eventually result in overstimulation of the humoral immune
system leading to hyperimmune response and eventually humoral
immune system burn out.
If a hyper elevated or shut down mucosal barrier and/or leaky
gut is confirmed, it is extremely important to identify the
cause. The following additional tests should be considered
(for more detailed information refer to Technical Bulletin
for referenced tests – infections and gluten intolerance should
be ruled out first):
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