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Virus-associated disruption of mucosal epithelial tight junctions and its role in viral transmission and spread

Sharof Tugizov1

  • 1Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Tissue Barriers
|July 9, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Viruses breach mucosal barriers by disrupting epithelial tight junctions, enabling viral entry and systemic spread. Understanding these mechanisms is key to preventing viral transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Mucosal epithelia serve as primary entry points for many viral pathogens.
  • Epithelial tight junctions form a robust barrier crucial for preventing pathogen dissemination.
  • Viruses must overcome this barrier to initiate systemic infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular mechanisms viruses employ to disrupt mucosal epithelial junctions.
  • To explore the role of junctional disruption in transmucosal viral transmission and spread.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of viral pathogenesis and epithelial barrier function.
  • Analysis of molecular pathways involved in viral disruption of tight and adherens junctions.

Main Results:

  • Viruses disrupt tight junctions, facilitating paracellular viral penetration.
  • Junctional disruption can expose or release viral receptors, enhancing epithelial infection.
  • Mechanisms involve direct viral protein interactions or host cell signaling modulation.

Conclusions:

  • Virus-induced disruption of mucosal epithelial junctions is a critical step in initiating systemic infection.
  • Targeting these viral strategies could offer new avenues for antiviral therapies.
  • Further research into specific molecular interactions is warranted to fully elucidate viral transmucosal spread.
Keywords:
Virusdisruption of epithelial junctionsmucosal epithelium

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