Interendothelial junctions: structure, signalling and functional roles.
Endothelial cell-cell adhesive junctions are formed by transmembrane adhesive proteins linked to a complex cytoskeletal network. These structures are important not only for maintaining adhesion between endothelial cells and, as a consequence, for the control of vascular permeability, but also for intracellular signalling properties. The establishment of intercellular junctions might affect the endothelial functional phenotype by the downregulation or upregulation of endothelial-specific activities.
Lampugnani
M G
MG
Vascular Biology Laboratory, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy.
Dejana
E
E
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004727:Endothelium / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology