Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic recurrent intestinal inflammatory disease characterized by high incidence and young onset age. Recently, there have been some interesting findings in the pathogenesis of UC. The mucus barrier, which is composed of a mucin complex rich in O-glycosylation, not only provides nutrients and habitat for intestinal microbes but also orchestrates the taming of germs. In turn, the gut microbiota modulates the production and secretion of mucins and stratification of the mucus layers. Active bidirectional communication between the microbiota and its ‘slimy’ partner, the mucus barrier, seems to be a continually performed concerto, maintaining homeostasis of the gut ecological microenvironment. Any abnormalities may induce a disorder in the gut community, thereby causing inflammatory damage. Our review mainly focuses on the complicated communication between the mucus barrier and gut microbiome to explore a promising new avenue for UC therapy.

溃疡性结肠炎（UC）是一种慢性复发性肠道炎症性疾病，具有发病率高、发病年龄小等特点。最近，在 UC 的发病机制方面有一些有趣的发现。粘液屏障由富含 O-糖基化的粘蛋白复合物组成，不仅为肠道微生物提供营养和栖息地，而且还协调驯服细菌。反过来，肠道微生物群调节粘蛋白的产生和分泌以及粘液层的分层。微生物群与其“黏糊糊的”伙伴粘液屏障之间的主动双向交流似乎是一首持续演奏的协奏曲，可维持肠道生态微环境的稳态。任何异常都可能诱发肠道群落紊乱，从而引起炎症损伤。