Tight junctions: is there a role in dermatology?
A variety of tight junction (TJ) proteins including claudins, occludin, tricellulin, zonula occludens-proteins and junctional adhesion molecules have been identified in complex localization patterns in mammalian epidermis. Their expression and/or localization is frequently altered in skin diseases including skin tumors. However, our understanding of the function(s) of TJ and TJ proteins in the skin is, even though rapidly increasing, still limited. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the involvement of TJ and TJ proteins in mammalian skin in functions ascribed to TJ in simple epithelia, such as barrier function, polarity, gene expression, proliferation, differentiation, and vesicle transport.
Kirschner
Nina
N
Department of Dermatology and Venerology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.
Bohner
Claudia
C
Rachow
Susanne
S
Brandner
Johanna M
JM
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003880:Dermatology / Q000639:trends; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*
D008565:Membrane Proteins