Damage control of epithelial barrier function in dynamic environments

Epithelial tissues cover the surfaces and lumens of the internal organs of multicellular animals and crucially contribute to internal environment homeostasis by delineating distinct compartments within the body. This vital role is known as epithelial barrier function. Epithelial cells are arranged l...

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Main Authors: Tomohito Higashi, Akira C. Saito, Hideki Chiba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-06-01
Series:European Journal of Cell Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S017193352400027X
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author Tomohito Higashi
Akira C. Saito
Hideki Chiba
author_facet Tomohito Higashi
Akira C. Saito
Hideki Chiba
author_sort Tomohito Higashi
collection DOAJ
description Epithelial tissues cover the surfaces and lumens of the internal organs of multicellular animals and crucially contribute to internal environment homeostasis by delineating distinct compartments within the body. This vital role is known as epithelial barrier function. Epithelial cells are arranged like cobblestones and intricately bind together to form an epithelial sheet that upholds this barrier function. Central to the restriction of solute and fluid diffusion through intercellular spaces are occluding junctions, tight junctions in vertebrates and septate junctions in invertebrates. As part of epithelial tissues, cells undergo constant renewal, with older cells being replaced by new ones. Simultaneously, the epithelial tissue undergoes relative rearrangement, elongating, and shifting directionally as a whole. The movement or shape changes within the epithelial sheet necessitate significant deformation and reconnection of occluding junctions. Recent advancements have shed light on the intricate mechanisms through which epithelial cells sustain their barrier function in dynamic environments. This review aims to introduce these noteworthy findings and discuss some of the questions that remain unanswered.
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spelling doaj.art-020b5476d5364f00a527107bb536d30f2024-06-27T04:39:18ZengElsevierEuropean Journal of Cell Biology0171-93352024-06-011032151410Damage control of epithelial barrier function in dynamic environmentsTomohito Higashi0Akira C. Saito1Hideki Chiba2Correspondence to: Department of Basic Pathology, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.; Department of Basic Pathology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, JapanDepartment of Basic Pathology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, JapanDepartment of Basic Pathology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, JapanEpithelial tissues cover the surfaces and lumens of the internal organs of multicellular animals and crucially contribute to internal environment homeostasis by delineating distinct compartments within the body. This vital role is known as epithelial barrier function. Epithelial cells are arranged like cobblestones and intricately bind together to form an epithelial sheet that upholds this barrier function. Central to the restriction of solute and fluid diffusion through intercellular spaces are occluding junctions, tight junctions in vertebrates and septate junctions in invertebrates. As part of epithelial tissues, cells undergo constant renewal, with older cells being replaced by new ones. Simultaneously, the epithelial tissue undergoes relative rearrangement, elongating, and shifting directionally as a whole. The movement or shape changes within the epithelial sheet necessitate significant deformation and reconnection of occluding junctions. Recent advancements have shed light on the intricate mechanisms through which epithelial cells sustain their barrier function in dynamic environments. This review aims to introduce these noteworthy findings and discuss some of the questions that remain unanswered.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S017193352400027Xtight junctionsseptate junctionsbarrier functionepithelial cells
spellingShingle Tomohito Higashi
Akira C. Saito
Hideki Chiba
Damage control of epithelial barrier function in dynamic environments
European Journal of Cell Biology
tight junctions
septate junctions
barrier function
epithelial cells
title Damage control of epithelial barrier function in dynamic environments
title_full Damage control of epithelial barrier function in dynamic environments
title_fullStr Damage control of epithelial barrier function in dynamic environments
title_full_unstemmed Damage control of epithelial barrier function in dynamic environments
title_short Damage control of epithelial barrier function in dynamic environments
title_sort damage control of epithelial barrier function in dynamic environments
topic tight junctions
septate junctions
barrier function
epithelial cells
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S017193352400027X
work_keys_str_mv AT tomohitohigashi damagecontrolofepithelialbarrierfunctionindynamicenvironments
AT akiracsaito damagecontrolofepithelialbarrierfunctionindynamicenvironments
AT hidekichiba damagecontrolofepithelialbarrierfunctionindynamicenvironments