Journal
MICROVASCULAR RESEARCH
Volume 75, Issue 3, Pages 391-402Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2007.10.006
Keywords
adherens junction; ALCAM; barrier function; N-cadherin
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Funding
- NHLBI NIH HHS [HL077769, R01 HL077769-03, R01 HL060024, R01 HL077769-04, R01 HL060024-10, R01 HL077769, R01 HL077769-02, R01 HL077769-01, HL66299] Funding Source: Medline
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Endothelial cells assemble unique barriers that confer specific permeability requirements at different vascular segments. We examined lung microvascular and artery endothelial cells to gain insight into mechanisms for segment-specific barrier functions. Transendothelial electrical resistance was significantly higher in microvascular barriers, and a 50% reduction in barrier function required 5-fold higher concentration of cytochalasin D in the microvascular compared to the arterial barrier. Transcriptional profiling studies identified N-cadherin and activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) to be most highly expressed in microvascular than in pulmonary artery endothelial cells. ALCAM was detected in microvascular endothelial cells in the alveolar septum but not in endothelial cells in larger pulmonary vessels in situ. This pattern was retained in culture as ALCAM was recruited to cell junctions in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells but remained predominantly cytosolic in pulmonary artery endothelial cells. Confocal analysis revealed ALCAM in the lateral plasma membrane domain where it co-localized with N- and VE-cadherin. This finding was supported by co-immunoprecipitation studies demonstrating the presence of ALCAM in multiple adherens junction protein complexes. These functional, biophysical and molecular findings suggest specialization of the adherens junction as a basis for a highly restrictive endothelial barrier to control fluid flux into the alveolar airspace. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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