A gut-centric view of aging: Do intestinal epithelial cells contribute to age-associated microbiota changes, inflammaging, and immunosenescence?

Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) serve as both a physical and an antimicrobial barrier against the microbiota, as well as a conduit for signaling between the microbiota and systemic host immunity. As individuals age, the balance between these systems undergoes a myriad of changes due to age-associated changes to the microbiota, IECs themselves, immunosenescence, and inflammaging. In this review, we discuss emerging data related to age-associated loss of intestinal barrier integrity and posit that IEC dysfunction may play a central role in propagating age-associated alterations in microbiota composition and immune homeostasis.