Our G.I. Tract and Why is it Important to our Health.

Introduction

The human gastrointestinal tract (GI tract or GIT) is an organ system responsible for transporting and digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and expelling waste.

The tract consists of the stomach and intestines and is divided into the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts. The GI tract includes all structures between the mouth and the anus, forming a continuous passageway that includes the main organs of digestion, namely, the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. In contrast, the human digestive system comprises the gastrointestinal tract plus the accessory organs of digestion (the tongue, salivary glands, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder). G.I may also be divided into foregut, midgut, and hindgut, reflecting the embryological origin of each segment.The GI tract releases hormones from enzymes to help regulate the digestive process. These hormones, including gastrin, secretin, cholecystokinin, and ghrelin, are mediated through either intracrine or autocrine mechanisms, indicating that the cells releasing these hormones are conserved structures throughout evolution.

The Roles and Benefits of G.I to the health

Immune system homeostasis (Internal Body heat Regulation)

Good and beneficial bacteria can also add to the homeostasis of the gastrointestinal system. A classic example to point is the relationship between Clostridia and the human gut, one of the most predominant bacterial groups in the gastrointestinal tract. Clostridia play an important role in influencing the dynamics of our immune system in the gut. It has been demonstrated that the intake of a high fiber diet could be responsible for the induction of Treg cells. This is due to the production of short-chain fatty acids during the fermentation of plant-derived nutrients such as butyrate and propionate. Basically, the butyrate induces the differentiation of Treg cells by enhancing histone H3 acetylation in the promoter and conserved non-coding sequence regions of the Foxp3 locus and thus regulating the T cells, having as a result the reduction of the inflammatory response and allergies.

               Intestinal Microbiota

The large intestine hosts several kinds of bacteria that deal with molecules the human body is not able to break down itself. This is an example of symbiosis. These bacteria also account for the production of gases at the host-pathogen interface, inside our intestine (this gas is released as flatulence when eliminated through the anus). However, the large intestine is mainly concerned with the absorption of water from digested material (which is regulated by the hypothalamus) and the reabsorption of sodium, as well as any nutrients that may have escaped primary digestion in the ileum.

·                Immune barrier

The human gastrointestinal tract is also a prominent part of the immune system. The surface area of the digestive tract is estimated to be the surface area of a football field. With such a large exposure, the immune system must work hard to prevent pathogens from entering into blood and lymph.

The low pH (ranging from 1 to 4) of the stomach is fatal for many microorganisms that enter it. Similarly, mucus (containing IgA antibodies) neutralizes many of these microorganisms. Other factors in the GI tract help with immune function as well, including enzymes in saliva and bile. Enzymes such as Cyp3A4, along with the antiporter activities, also are instrumental in the intestine's role of detoxification of antigens and xenobiotics, such as drugs, involved in first phase metabolism.

Health-enhancing intestinal bacteria of the gut flora serve to prevent the overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria in the gut. These two types of bacteria compete for space and "food," as there are limited resources within the intestinal tract. A ratio of 80-85% beneficial to 15-20% potentially harmful bacteria generally is considered normal within the intestines. Microorganisms also are kept at bay by an extensive immune system comprising the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT).

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