Claudins: multifunctional players in epithelial tight junctions and their role in cancer

The molecular architecture of tight junctions has been a subject of extensive studies that have shown tight junctions to be composed of many peripheral and integral membrane proteins. Claudins have been considered the main tight junction-forming proteins; however, the role they play in a series of p...

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Published inCellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS Vol. 64; no. 1; pp. 17 - 28
Main Authors Oliveira, S. S., Morgado-Díaz, J. A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland Springer Nature B.V 01.01.2007
Birkhäuser-Verlag
Subjects
Animals
Biological Transport
Cancer
Cell Polarity
Cellular biology
Epithelial Cells - cytology
Humans
Membrane Proteins - metabolism
Molecular biology
Neoplasms - drug therapy
Neoplasms - metabolism
Oncology
Permeability
Proteins
Review
Signal Transduction
Tight Junctions - chemistry
Tight Junctions - ultrastructure
Tumors
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Summary:The molecular architecture of tight junctions has been a subject of extensive studies that have shown tight junctions to be composed of many peripheral and integral membrane proteins. Claudins have been considered the main tight junction-forming proteins; however, the role they play in a series of pathophysiological events, including human carcinoma development, is only now beginning to be understood. Increasing evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies have identified the influence of claudins on tight junction structure and function, although claudins also participate in cellular contexts other than tight junctions. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the conceptual framework concerning claudins, focusing on the involvement of these proteins in epithelial cell polarity establishment, paracellular transport control, signal transduction and tumorigenesis.
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ISSN:1420-682X
1420-9071
DOI:10.1007/s00018-006-6314-1