Junctional Adhesion Molecules (JAMs) are differentially expressed in fibroblasts and co-localize with ZO-1 to adherens-like junctions

• Published in: Cell communication & adhesion Vol. 13; no. 4; p. 233
• Main Authors: Morris, Andrew P, Tawil, Ahmad, Berkova, Zuzana, Wible, Linda, Smith, C Wayne, Cunningham, Sonia A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.07.2006
• Subjects: 3T3-L1 Cells; Adherens Junctions - metabolism; Animals; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Cadherins - metabolism; Cell Adhesion Molecules - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Cornea - cytology; Cornea - metabolism; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Fibroblasts - ultrastructure; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immunoglobulins - metabolism; Junctional Adhesion Molecules; Lung - cytology; Lung - metabolism; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Mice; NIH 3T3 Cells; Phosphoproteins - metabolism; Receptors, Cell Surface; Skin - cytology; Skin - metabolism; Skin - ultrastructure; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
• ISSN: 1541-9061
• DOI: 10.1080/15419060600877978

Junctional Adhesion Molecules (JAMs) are components and regulators of the well-characterized epithelial and endothelial tight junction. Since the molecular components of native fibroblast adherens-like junctions remain poorly described we determined JAM expression profiles in fibroblasts. We found JAM-C on human dermal, lung, and corneal primary fibroblast cultures. Within murine lines, JAM-A was found in L-cells, JAM-C in 3T3 L1 cells, and both JAM-A and JAM-C were co-expressed in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. In primary dermal fibroblasts, JAM-C concentrated at zipper-like junctions that formed between apposing cells. Dual immunostaining showed JAM-C co-localization with the ZO-1 intracellular scaffolding molecule at cell contacts that ranged from 7 microm to over 25 microm in length. JAM-C also labeled similar zipper-like junctions detected with N-Cadherin and Cadherin-11 antibodies. We conclude that endogenous JAM-C is an integral component of the dermal fibroblast adherens-like junction, and our data extend the expression and potential function of JAMs into mesenchymal tissues.