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Tight Junctions

Tight Junctions

Tight junctions are molecular seals between cells that prevent the leaking of fluids, ions, and other small solutes across cavities and compartments in multicellular organisms. They are mainly composed of claudin and occludin transmembrane proteins, and other proteins such as tricellulin and JAM (junctional adhesion molecule). All these proteins are 4-pass transmembrane proteins, except JAM, which is a single-pass transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. The...

Adherens Junctions

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types – adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another cell. These cell junctions are classified into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight Junctions
Tight...

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another cell. These cell junctions are classified into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight Junctions
Tight...

Anchoring Junctions

Anchoring Junctions

Anchoring junctions are multiprotein complexes that help cells connect to other cells and the extracellular matrix. Anchoring junctions are present on the lateral and basal surfaces of cells, providing strong and flexible connections. Focal adhesions are often formed due to cell interactions with the ECM substrata, which initiate signal transduction via kinase cascades and other mechanisms. Together, they provide stability and tissue integrity. There are three types of anchoring junctions:...

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor

Published on: February 10, 2014

New diseases derived or associated with the tight junction.

Marcelino Cereijido¹, Rubén G Contreras, David Flores-Benítez

¹Center For Research & Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico. cereijido@fisio.cinvestav.mx

Archives of Medical Research

|June 15, 2007

Summary

Tight junctions (TJs) seal epithelial cells, controlling substance passage. Altered TJs cause diseases, but researchers are developing drugs to repair them or enable drug delivery.

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Functional Assessment of Intestinal Tight Junction Barrier and Ion Permeability in Native Tissue by Ussing Chamber Technique

Functional Assessment of Intestinal Tight Junction Barrier and Ion Permeability in Native Tissue by Ussing Chamber Technique

Published on: May 26, 2021

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Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor

Published on: February 10, 2014

Functional Assessment of Intestinal Tight Junction Barrier and Ion Permeability in Native Tissue by Ussing Chamber Technique

Functional Assessment of Intestinal Tight Junction Barrier and Ion Permeability in Native Tissue by Ussing Chamber Technique

Published on: May 26, 2021

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Pathology

Background:

Epithelial cells are sealed by tight junctions (TJs), regulating paracellular and transcellular transport pathways.
TJ integrity is crucial; dysfunction leads to diseases, impacting organs like kidneys and the bladder.
Over 50 protein species constitute TJs, and their disruption is linked to severe health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To illustrate the diverse range of diseases associated with tight junction (TJ) alterations.
To highlight the role of TJs in autoimmune diseases, cancer, infections, and allergies.
To present ongoing research into pharmaceutical agents for TJ repair and therapeutic molecule delivery.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on tight junction structure and function.
Case illustrations of diseases linked to TJ defects.
Description of current pharmaceutical research targeting TJ modulation.

Main Results:

Tight junction (TJ) dysfunction is implicated in a growing number of diseases, including autoimmune disorders where antigen passage occurs.
Specific examples demonstrate TJ involvement in conditions affecting fetal viability, cancer, infections, and allergies.
Therapeutic strategies are being developed to restore TJ function or enhance permeability for drug delivery.

Conclusions:

Tight junctions (TJs) are critical for epithelial barrier function and overall health.
Dysregulation of TJs contributes to a wide spectrum of human diseases.
Targeting TJs offers promising therapeutic avenues for disease treatment and enhanced drug delivery.