title: The role of JAM-A in inflammatory bowel disease: unrevealing the ties that bind.
abstract: Tight junctions (TJ) are junctional proteins whose function is to maintain an intact intestinal epithelial barrier and regulate the paracellular movement of water and solutes. Altered TJ structure and epithelial permeability are observed in inflammatory bowel disease and seem to have an important role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) is a protein expressed at tight junctions of epithelial and endothelial cells, as well as on circulating leukocytes. Its function at tight junctions appears to be crucial as an extracellular adhesive molecule in the direct regulation of intestinal barrier function. This review focuses on the role of JAM-A in controlling mucosal homeostasis by regulating the integrity and permeability of epithelial barrier function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vetrano
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000502:physiology*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C407243:F11R protein, human; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface