Figure legend:
The Epithelial Barrier Hypothesis proposes that environmental exposure
to toxic substances affects the epithelial cells and leads to the
development of leaky epithelial barriers, microbial dysbiosis,
translocation of bacteria to inter- and sub-epithelial areas, and tissue
microinflammation, and immune response to opportunistic pathogens and
commensals. It also points out a possible link between barrier
disruption and inflammation at distant organs, such as joints and
central nervous system, due to migration of activated immune cells to
target organs.