Vascular permeability in ocular disease and the role of tight junctions.
Vascular permeability is closely linked with angiogenesis in a number of pathologies. In the retina, the normally well-developed blood-retinal barrier is altered in a host of eye diseases preceding or commensurate with angiogenesis. This review examines the literature regarding the tight junction complex that establishes the blood-retinal barrier focusing on the transmembrane proteins occludin and the claudin family and the membrane associated protein zonula occludens. The changes observed in these proteins associated with vascular and epithelial permeability is discussed. Finally, novel literature addressing the link between the tight junction complex and angiogenesis is considered.
Erickson
Kathryn K
KK
Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
Sundstrom
Jeffrey M
JM
Antonetti
David A
DA
D000375:Aging; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D062794:MARVEL Domain Containing 2 Protein; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D062793:Occludin; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000502:physiology*
D062794:MARVEL Domain Containing 2 Protein; C516798:MARVELD2 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C568985:OCLN protein, human; D062793:Occludin