CRTAM: A molecule involved in epithelial cell adhesion.
Class I-restricted T cell associated molecule (CRTAM) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that complies with the structural characteristics of the JAM family of proteins and is phylogenetically more closely related to nectin-like proteins. Here we demonstrate for the first time, that CRTAM is expressed in epithelial cells along the lateral membrane and is important for early cell-cell contacts and cell-substrate interactions. CRTAM is sensitive to intermediate filament disruption and treatment of monolayers with soluble CRTAM enhances cell-cell dissociation and lowers transepithelial electrical resistance. Incubation of newly plated cells with anti-CRTAM antibody decreases the formation of cell aggregates and promotes cell detachment. Co-cultures of epithelial cells and fibroblasts that lack CRTAM expression and in vitro binding assays, demonstrate the participation of CRTAM in homotypic and heterotypic trans-interactions. Hence we conclude that CRTAM is a molecule involved in epithelial cell adhesion.
Garay
Erika
E
Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, Center for Research and Advanced Studies Cinvestav, Mexico City, Mexico.
Patiño-López
Genaro
G
Islas
Socorro
S
Alarcón
Lourdes
L
Canche-Pool
Elsy
E
Valle-Rios
Ricardo
R
Medina-Contreras
Oscar
O
Granados
Giovana
G
Chávez-Munguía
Bibiana
B
Juaristi
Eusebio
E
Ortiz-Navarrete
Vianney
V
González-Mariscal
Lorenza
L
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C408522:class-I restricted T cell-associated molecule; D002118:Calcium