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[Research progress on the function of epithelial tight junction.] [Article in Chinese]

CONG Xin, ZHANG Yan, YU Guang-Yan, WU Li-Ling

Center for Salivary Gland Diseases, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China； Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China

Abstract

Tight junctions (TJs) are widely expressed in the most apical portion of both epithelial and endothelial cell-cell interactions, serving as a structural and functional basis for material transport through the paracellular pathway. TJs are multi-protein complex composed of transmembrane and cytoplasmic proteins. TJs constitute pores allowing materials with specific size and electrical charge to pass through the paracellular pathway, which is so called “barrier” function. Besides, TJs also separate the lumen and interstitial space of epithelium and endothelium by the function of “fence”. Recently, there is increasing body of evidence regarding the crucial role of TJs, together with the possible signaling pathways, in many epithelial cells, such as salivary, airway, intestinal and renal epithelial cells. The present review focuses on the latest research progresses on TJs, including TJ’s composing, structure, and function measurement, as well as the mechanisms for modulating TJ’s functions in some important epithelial cell types. We hope that the review may provide new insight into the therapeutic strategy of epithelium-related disease by targeting TJs.

Key words: tight junction; epithelial cells; paracellular pathway

Received: 2016-02-28　　Accepted: 2016-05-24

Corresponding author: 吴立玲　　E-mail: pathophy@bjmu.edu.cn

Citing This Article：

CONG Xin, ZHANG Yan, YU Guang-Yan, WU Li-Ling. [Research progress on the function of epithelial tight junction.] [Article in Chinese]. Acta Physiol Sin 2016; 68 (4): 483-491 (in Chinese with English abstract).