Journal
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
Volume 41, Issue 3, Pages 315-328Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/S0169-409X(00)00049-1
Keywords
tight junctions; paracellular permeability; epithelium; endothelium; leukocytes
Categories
Funding
- NHLBI NIH HHS [HL60540, HL54229] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The tight junction acts' as a regulated barrier for diffusion of ions, larger solutes, and migration of leukocytes through the paracellular space. Barrier function varies with the tissue type, and positively correlates with the number and complexity of tight junction strand formation. Polarized epithelia and brain capillary endothelium display a high degree of barrier function and tight junction formation. Conversely, vascular endothelium in other tissues has fewer, loosely organized tight junctions strands and greater permeability. Through cytoskeletal association, the tight junction and the adherens junction form a functional unit termed the apical junction complex. The development and stabilization of the tight junction is dependent upon the adherens junction. It has become apparent that paracellular permeability is altered during the migration of leukocytes across the apical junction complex and that the apical junction complex plays an important role in the regulation of leukocyte transmigration (or extravasation) through the endothelium and epithelium. Evidence suggests that important cell-cell adhesive events between transmigrating leukocytes and the apical junction complex and subsequent signaling events result in the facilitation of the passage of cells through the paracellular space. Possible mechanisms for the regulation of barrier function pertaining to leukocyte transmigration are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available