Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Isolation of Primary Murine Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells
Published on: November 14, 2014
Bves modulates tight junction associated signaling
Patricia K Russ1, Christopher J Pino, Christopher S Williams
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America. patricia.k.russ@vanderbilt.edu
Blood vessel epicardial substance (Bves) regulates epithelial tight junctions (TJs). Truncated Bves disrupts TJs, increasing RhoA activity and ZONAB/DbpA transcription, while full-length Bves enhances TJ function.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Epithelial Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Blood vessel epicardial substance (Bves) is a transmembrane adhesion protein crucial for epithelial tight junction (TJ) formation.
- TJs are vital for epithelial barrier function and cellular signaling, influencing pathways like RhoA and ZONAB/DbpA.
- The precise role of Bves in modulating these signaling pathways via TJ regulation remains to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that Bves modulates RhoA activation and ZONAB/DbpA activity through its regulation of TJ formation.
- To examine the effects of full-length and truncated Bves on TJ integrity and associated signaling pathways in human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells.
Main Methods:
- Stable transfection of HCE cells with full-length (w-Bves) or C-terminus truncated (t-Bves) Flag-tagged chicken Bves.
- Assessment of Bves interaction with endogenous Bves and ZO-1.
- Measurement of trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) to evaluate TJ function.
- Immunolocalization of TJ proteins, ZONAB/DbpA, and GEF-H1.
- FRET-based RhoA activity assays and luciferase reporter assays for ZONAB/DbpA transcriptional activity.
Main Results:
- Both w-Bves and t-Bves interacted with endogenous Bves, but t-Bves disrupted membrane localization and ZO-1 interaction.
- w-Bves cells showed increased TEER and proper TJ protein localization, while t-Bves cells exhibited decreased TEER and loss of TJ protein localization.
- t-Bves expression led to decreased membrane localization of ZONAB/DbpA and GEF-H1.
- t-Bves cells displayed a significant 30% increase in RhoA activity and elevated ZONAB/DbpA transcriptional activity compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Bves expression and proper localization are critical for maintaining epithelial TJ integrity and function.
- Truncated Bves disrupts TJs, leading to aberrant RhoA activation and enhanced ZONAB/DbpA transcriptional activity.
- These findings highlight Bves as a key regulator of epithelial barrier function and cellular signaling.
More Related Videos
10:50Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo
Published on: March 26, 2019
09:38Measuring Changes in Brain Endothelial Barrier Integrity with Two Impedance-based Biosensors in Response to Cancer Cells and Cytokines
Published on: September 22, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Tight Junctions
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence
Overview of Secretory Vesicles
Various proteins regulate the aggregation of molecules inside the secretory vesicles. Chromogranins...