title: Possible roles of LI-Cadherin in the formation and maintenance of the intestinal epithelial barrier.
abstract: LI-cadherin belongs to the so called 7D-cadherins, exceptional members of the cadherin superfamily which are characterized by seven extracellular cadherin repeats and a small cytosolic domain. Under physiological conditions LI-cadherin is expressed in the intestine and colon in human and mouse and in the rat also in hepatocytes. LI-cadherin was shown to act as a functional Ca(2+)-dependent adhesion molecule, linking neighboring cells and a lot of biophysical and biochemical parameters were determined in the last time. It is also known that dysregulated LI-cadherin expression can be found in a variety of diseases. Although there are several hypothesis and theoretical models concerning the function of LI-cadherin, the physiological role of LI-cadherin is still enigmatic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Neurobionics; RWTH-Aachen University; Aachen; Germany.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
keywords: CDH17; IC; LI-cadherin; cadherin-17; enterocytes; osmoregulation