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Published on: August 25, 2022
Mechanical Force-Driven Adherens Junction Remodeling and Epithelial Dynamics
Diana Pinheiro1, Yohanns Bellaïche1
1Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 3215, INSERM U934, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France; Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, CNRS UMR 3215, INSERM U934, 75005 Paris, France.
Abstract:
During epithelial tissue development, repair, and homeostasis, adherens junctions (AJs) ensure intercellular adhesion and tissue integrity while allowing for cell and tissue dynamics. Mechanical forces play critical roles in AJs' composition and dynamics. Recent findings highlight that beyond a well-established role in reinforcing cell-cell adhesion, AJ mechanosensitivity promotes junctional remodeling and polarization, thereby regulating critical processes such as cell intercalation, division, and collective migration. Here, we provide an integrated view of mechanosensing mechanisms that regulate cell-cell contact composition, geometry, and integrity under tension and highlight pivotal roles for mechanosensitive AJ remodeling in preserving epithelial integrity and sustaining tissue dynamics.
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