“…Under physiological condition, NHE3, a brush border NHE, plays an essential role in the regulation of the acidity of the apical microenvironment (29). In the face of genetic loss of Slc9a3 in a mouse model (11,12,15,16), or significant inhibition of NHE3 expression and/or activity during the IBD progression (17,23,27,34), the resulting changes in the microbiome composition may contribute to the degree of colitis developed. Conversely, susceptibility of NHE3 Ϫ/Ϫ mice to DSS-induced mucosal injury and changes in the tight and adherens junctions (12), as well as increased epithelial cell apoptosis in NHE3/IL-10 double KO mice (15), suggest another, potentially intrinsic, epithelial cell defect, which is subject to modulation by colonic microbiota.…”