title: Tight junctions in epidermis: from barrier to keratinization.
abstract: Tight junctions (TJs) are one type of intercellular junction. TJs prevent diffusion of solutes through the intercellular spaces in simple and stratified epithelia. Mice lacking claudin-1 (an adhesion molecule at TJs) show dehydration from the skin by impaired barrier function of epidermal TJs. Meanwhile, a human hereditary disease with ichthyosis (NISCH syndrome) has been found to be a claudin-1-deficient disease. The two models of lacking-claudin-1 indicate that TJs are related not only to the epidermal barrier but also to keratinization. Research of TJs in epidermis is reviewed in view of the barrier to keratinization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri 632-8552, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyachi
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furuse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000503:physiopathology; D062445:Claudin-1; D057167:Claudins / Q000502:physiology; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000172:deficiency; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C568108:CLDN1 protein, human; D062445:Claudin-1; D057167:Claudins; C568113:Cldn1 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins