The Apical Junctional Complex in Respiratory Diseases

Author: An Soo JANG ¹
Author Information

1. Division of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea. jas877@schmc.ac.kr
Publication Type:Review
Keywords: Epithelium; Permeability; Tight junctions
MeSH: Blood Vessels; Capillary Permeability; Endothelial Cells; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium; Leukocytes; Permeability; Respiratory System; Tight Junctions
From:Chonnam Medical Journal 2014;50(1):1-5
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: The epithelium, including the respiratory system, acts as a selective gate between the outside environment and underlying tissue. Epithelial cells are polarized due to the formation of the apical junctional complex, which includes adherent junctions and tight junctions. Endothelial cells are one of the most important cellular constituents of blood vessels. Endothelial junctional proteins play important roles in tissue integrity as well as in vascular permeability, leukocyte extravasation, and angiogenesis. This review focuses on the apical junctional complex in respiratory diseases.