Introduction for the special issue on "Tissue Barriers in Inflammation".
This issue of Tissue Barriers contains the inaugural special issue devoted to recent advances in barrier function of endothelial and epithelial cells. We used this opportunity to invite experts in vascular endothelial cell biology and epithelial cell biology to comment on critical questions and problems in permeability of organ and tissue barriers, and to provide insight into common areas in these fields, namely how these cells maintain homeostasis and response to injury and infection. To complement these reviews, this issue also contains four research articles that explore specific questions related respiratory and intestinal epithelial cell function.
Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology; Department of Pathology ; Brigham and Women's Hospital; Harvard Medical School ; Boston, MA USA.
Francis W
FW
Luscinskas
Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology; Department of Pathology ; Brigham and Women's Hospital; Harvard Medical School ; Boston, MA USA.
Marion
M
Leick
Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology; Department of Pathology ; Brigham and Women's Hospital; Harvard Medical School ; Boston, MA USA.
Gail
G
Newton
Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology; Department of Pathology ; Brigham and Women's Hospital; Harvard Medical School ; Boston, MA USA ; Present affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Emory University School of Medicine ; Atlanta, GA USA.
Asma
A
Nusrat
Barrier; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; AJ, adherens junction; TJ, tight junction; PKC, protein kinase C; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1; PECAM-1, platelet endothelial cell molecule-1; NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis; HIF, Hypo; cytokines; endothelium; epithelium; inflammation; leukocytes