Cell-Cell Junctions Organize Structural and Signaling Networks

Cell-cell junctions link cells to each other in tissues, and regulate tissue homeostasis in critical cell processes that include tissue barrier function, cell proliferation, and migration. Defects in cell-cell junctions give rise to a wide range of tissue abnormalities that disrupt homeostasis and a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology 2018-04, Vol.10 (4), p.a029181
Main Authors: Garcia, Miguel A, Nelson, W James, Chavez, Natalie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abnormalities
Adherens Junctions - physiology
Animals
Cell junctions
Cell migration
Cell Movement
Cell Proliferation
Desmosomes
Desmosomes - physiology
Epidermis
Epithelial Cells - cytology
Epithelial Cells - metabolism
Epithelial Cells - ultrastructure
Epithelium
Epithelium - metabolism
Genetic abnormalities
Homeostasis
Humans
Intercellular Junctions - physiology
Intestinal Mucosa - cytology
Intestinal Mucosa - metabolism
Intestinal Mucosa - physiology
Intestine
PERSPECTIVES
Signal Transduction
Tight Junctions - physiology
Tissues
Wound Healing
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Summary:Cell-cell junctions link cells to each other in tissues, and regulate tissue homeostasis in critical cell processes that include tissue barrier function, cell proliferation, and migration. Defects in cell-cell junctions give rise to a wide range of tissue abnormalities that disrupt homeostasis and are common in genetic abnormalities and cancers. Here, we discuss the organization and function of cell-cell junctions primarily involved in adhesion (tight junction, adherens junction, and desmosomes) in two different epithelial tissues: a simple epithelium (intestine) and a stratified epithelium (epidermis). Studies in these tissues reveal similarities and differences in the organization and functions of different cell-cell junctions that meet the requirements for the specialized functions of each tissue. We discuss cell-cell junction responses to genetic and environmental perturbations that provide further insights into their roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis.
ISSN:1943-0264
1943-0264
DOI:10.1101/cshperspect.a029181