We are interested in mechanisms of intestinal barriers and their role in pathological increases in so-called bacterial translocation including but not limited to life bacteria but also bacterial products. Special focus relates to muco-epithelial and gut-vascular barrier which when disrupted give raise to increased permeation/translocation of luminal agents to the host and portal-venous as well as lymphatic circulation. This is investigated mainly in experimental models of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension known to present with increased intestinal permeability. Pathological bacterial translocation in liver cirrhosis is the pathophysiological hallmark of spontaneous bacterial peritionitis and has been proposed to contribute to development and/or aggravation of circulatory dysfunction, hepato-renal syndrome and acute-on-chronic liver failure.
