Miao Hui, Wang Bingcheng
Rammelkamp Center for Research, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109, United States.
Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2009 Apr;41(4):762-70. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2008.07.019. Epub 2008 Aug 9.
Eph receptors and ephrin ligands are widely expressed during embryonic development with well-defined functions in directing neuronal and vascular network formation. Over the last decade, evidence has mounted that Ephs and ephrins are also actively involved in prenatal and postnatal development of epithelial tissues. Their functions beyond developmental settings are starting to be recognized as well. The diverse functions of Eph/ephrin are largely related to the complementary expression pattern of the Eph receptors and corresponding ephrin ligands that are expressed in adjacent compartments, although overlapping expression pattern also exists in epithelial tissue. The interconnection between Ephs or ephrins and classical cell junctional molecules suggests they may function coordinately in maintaining epithelial structural integrity and homeostasis. This review will highlight cellular and molecular evidence in current literature that support a role of Eph/ephrin systems in regulating epithelial cell development and physiology.
Eph受体和ephrin配体在胚胎发育过程中广泛表达，在指导神经元和血管网络形成方面具有明确的功能。在过去十年中，越来越多的证据表明，Ephs和ephrins也积极参与上皮组织的产前和产后发育。它们在发育环境之外的功能也开始得到认可。Eph/ephrin的多种功能很大程度上与Eph受体和相应ephrin配体在相邻区域的互补表达模式有关，尽管上皮组织中也存在重叠的表达模式。Ephs或ephrins与经典细胞连接分子之间的相互联系表明，它们可能在维持上皮结构完整性和稳态方面协同发挥作用。本综述将重点介绍当前文献中的细胞和分子证据，这些证据支持Eph/ephrin系统在调节上皮细胞发育和生理学中的作用。
