**4. Conclusion**

The large surface, a thin barrier, and a microbiome of approximately 100 trillion microorganisms make the GIT the area of the body most at risk of pathogenic invasion [78]. More than 60% of active immune cells are found in tissues of the GIT. The immune system of the GIT is kept dampened to prevent an immune response and persistent inflammation in the gut, which may spill over systemically. Hence the need to maintain gut integrity. The crucial role Paneth cells play in the provisioning and regulation of the innate immune system of the gut cannot be underestimated. The Paneth cell is a nurse, guardian and chaperone, fine-tuning the gut microbiome to prevent dysbiosis, controlling the physiological function, proliferation and differentiation of the intestinal stem cells, and acquiring stemness to replace damaged intestinal stem cells. These cells liaise with cells in the mesenchymal and recruitment of adaptive immunity to prevent pathogenesis, earning the term of gatekeeper of the gut.
