title: Tight junction proteins: from barrier to tumorigenesis.
abstract: The tight junction is a multi-protein complex and is the apical most junctional complex in certain epithelial and endothelial cells. A great deal of attention has been devoted to the understanding of these proteins in contributing to the barrier function - that is, regulating the paracellular flux or permeability between adjacent cells. However, tight junction proteins are now recognized as having functions beyond the barrier. The focus of this review is to discuss the barrier function of the tight junction and to summarize the literature with a focus on the role of tight junction proteins in proliferation, transformation, and metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. runkle@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: E Aaron
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Runkle
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D057167:Claudins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D062793:Occludin / Q000502:physiology; D062725:Tight Junction Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D057167:Claudins; D062793:Occludin; C569042:TJP1 protein, human; D062725:Tight Junction Proteins; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
keywords: Cancer; Claudin; Metastasis; Occludin; Tight junction