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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...

Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells

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The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

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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
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Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

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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.
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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:...

Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Overview

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Epithelial tissues are classified according to the shape of the cells and the number of cell layers formed. Cell shapes can be squamous (flattened and thin), cuboidal (square-like, as wide as it is tall), or columnar (rectangular, taller than it is wide). Additionally, the nucleus shape helps identify the type of epithelial cells. Squamous cells have flattened disc-shaped nuclei, cuboidal cells have spherical nuclei, and columnar cells have elongated nuclei.
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Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale

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Published on: May 28, 2021

Tight junction properties change during epidermis development.

Anna Celli, Yongjiao Zhai, Yan J Jiang

Experimental Dermatology

|August 14, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Tight junctions (TJ) initially block permeability in developing skin, then become more permeable. This transition is crucial for the skin barrier

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Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Cell biology
Skin biology

Background:

The epidermal barrier transitions from a liquid-dependent fetal environment to a dry, air-exposed postnatal state.
Tight junctions (TJ) are critical for establishing and maintaining epidermal barrier function throughout development.

Discussion:

TJ function and expression of claudin-1 and occludin change in parallel during late embryonic development.
Early prenatal development shows TJ blocking paracellular movement of Lanthanum (La3+), with increased claudin-1 and occludin.
Later in development, TJ become more permeable to ions and water, coinciding with the lipid barrier's maturation.

Key Insights:

TJ play a dynamic role, shifting from a restrictive to a more permeable state during epidermal development.
The sequence of TJ changes is conserved in human epidermal equivalents (HEE), indicating an intrinsic developmental program.
TJ-based and lipid-based epidermal permeability barriers are interdependent.

Outlook:

Understanding these developmental dynamics can inform strategies for treating skin barrier disorders.
Further research into the molecular mechanisms regulating TJ plasticity is warranted.
Investigating the interplay between TJ and lipid barrier formation may reveal new therapeutic targets.