| abstract |
Methods for detecting intestinal cell barrier dysfunction in a patient are disclosed. In one method, patient intestinal epithelial cells (lECs), oropharyngeal epithelial cells (OECs) or buccal epithelial cells (BECs) are stained with detectable probes specific against caspase-1 and caspase-3&7, and the cells are viewed for the presence of elevated levels of caspase-1, as evidence by a significantly higher ratio of caspase-1 marker to caspase-3&7, as an indicator of cell barrier dysfunction. In a second method, in situ images of a patient's lEC's, OECs or BECs are obtained by probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE), and images are analyzed for density of cell gaps. Also disclosed is a probe composition for use in detecting intestinal cell barrier dysfunction. |