[Gastrointestinal protective barrier].

Current views on the protective function of the gastrointestinal barrier are based on the capacity of its surface and glandular epitheliocytes to synthesize the mucins. The most significant types of gel-forming mucins are MUC 5AC, MUC 5B, MUC 6 and MUC 2. The type of the mucin is cell-specific and is determined by the character of cell phenotype. The change of the mucin type may be the major factor in the development of pathology. The protective mucin function is realized with the participation of trefoil peptides. The problem of the mechanism of mucin-trefoil peptide macromolecular complex formation in normal and pathological states is discussed.