Takano Kenichi, Kojima Takashi, Sawada Norimasa, Himi Tetsuo
Department of Otolaryngology.
Cell Science Research Institute of Frontier Medicine.
EXCLI J. 2014 Oct 13;13:1145-62. eCollection 2014.
Tight junctions (TJs), which are the most apically located of the intercellular junctional complexes, have a barrier function and a fence function. Recent studies show that they also participate in signal transduction mechanisms. TJs are modulated by intracellular signaling pathways including protein kinase C, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and NF-ϰB, to affect the epithelial barrier function in response to diverse stimuli. TJs are also regulated by various cytokines, growth factors, and hormones via signaling pathways. To investigate the regulation of TJ molecules via signaling pathways in human epithelial cells under normal and pathological conditions, we established a novel model of human telomerase reverse transcriptase-transfected human epithelial cells. In this review, we describe the recent progress in our understanding of the role of TJs for signal transduction under normal conditions in upper airway epithelium, pancreatic duct epithelial cells, hepatocytes, and endometrial epithelial cells, and in pathological conditions including cancer and infection.
紧密连接（TJs）是位于细胞间连接复合体最顶端的结构，具有屏障功能和栅栏功能。最近的研究表明，它们还参与信号转导机制。紧密连接受包括蛋白激酶C、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶和核因子κB在内的细胞内信号通路调节，以响应各种刺激影响上皮屏障功能。紧密连接也通过信号通路受多种细胞因子、生长因子和激素的调节。为了研究在正常和病理条件下通过信号通路对人上皮细胞中紧密连接分子的调节，我们建立了一种新型的人端粒酶逆转录酶转染的人上皮细胞模型。在这篇综述中，我们描述了在正常条件下上呼吸道上皮细胞、胰腺导管上皮细胞、肝细胞和子宫内膜上皮细胞以及在包括癌症和感染在内的病理条件下，我们对紧密连接在信号转导中作用的理解的最新进展。
