Cell
junctions
Cell junctions
• Intercellular junctions are specialized structures that connect adjacent cells,
allowing them to communicate, adhere to one another, and coordinate their
functions.
• Function
• Structure
• Location
• Abnormalities
Tight Junctions-
• Barrier: restrict the movement of solutes
Functions
and water between cells, helping to maintain
distinct concentrations of substances on
either side of the epithelium.
• Polarity: contribute to polarity by
maintaining separate environments for the
apical and basolateral surfaces of epithelial
cells.
Tight Junctions
Tight Junctions-location
Tight Junctions- Location
Gastrointestinal renal tubules blood-brain barrier
mucosa
Leaky tight junctions in PCT
Tight Junctions- Abnormalities
Lumen
• Clostridium difficile
• Vibrio Cholerae
• H. Pylori infection
Basolateral side
Tight Junctions- Abnormalities
Kernicterus
• Blood-brain barrier is not well developed in
infants
• Severe jaundice with excess indirect bilirubin
cross BBB
• Deposition in basal ganglia and brainstem
Severe jaundice • Movement disorders and hearing loss
• Mediate cell to cell adhesion.
• Provide mechanical strength by
linking the cytoskeletons of
adjacent cells, enabling them to
resist separation.
Adherens Junctions
• Cell Adhesion: Adherens junctions help
hold cells together, providing structural
cohesion in tissues.
• Tissue Morphogenesis: They play a key
role in shaping tissues during
development and in maintaining tissue
architecture.
Adherens Junctions
Adherens Junctions
cardiac muscle cells blood-brain barrier Gastrointestinal
mucosa
Adherens Junctions- Tumor metastasis
• Metastasis- The spread of
cancer cells from the place
where they first formed to
another part of the body.
• Anchoring junctions that provide
additional mechanical strength
to tissues and are particularly
important in tissues subjected to
heavy stress, such as cardiac and
epithelial tissues
• Resistance to sheering and
abrasive force
Desmosomes
• Mechanical Strength: resistance to
stretching and shear forces.
• Structural integrity
• Cell Signaling: signaling pathways that
regulate cell functions such as
proliferation and differentiation.
Desmosomes
Desmosomes
cardiac muscle Gastrointestinal Skin
mucosa
Desmosomes
Pemphigus Vulgaris Arrhythmogenic Right
Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
A heart condition linked to
mutations in desmosomal
proteins, causing heart muscle
• Painful, flaccid blisters degeneration and arrhythmias.
• An autoimmune disease
• antibodies against desmogleins 1 & 3
• loss of cell adhesion in the skin and mucous membranes.
Cell
junction
proteins
Hemidesmosomes
• anchor epithelial cells to the
underlying basement
membrane, providing stability
to tissues.
Hemidesmosomes
• Plectin
• BP 230 (bullous
pemphigoid antigen 1)
Hemidesmosomes
• Adhesion: anchoring of epithelial cells to the basement membrane which
is crucial for tissue cohesion and protection against mechanical stress.
• Barrier Function: By anchoring cells, hemidesmosomes help maintain the
integrity of epithelial layers, which is essential for barrier functions, such as
those in the skin and respiratory tract.
• Signal Transduction: These structures participate in signaling pathways
that can influence cell survival, migration, and differentiation.
Hemidesmosomes- skin
Hemidesmosomes- applied aspects
Bullous pemphigoid
• Itchy, tense blisters
• antibodies to BP180 and BP230
Gap Junctions
• Ion transport: They enable the rapid transfer of
ions (like calcium and potassium), which is critical
for excitability and signaling in neurons and muscle
cells.
• Cell Communication: Gap junctions facilitate direct
cell-to-cell communication, enabling coordinated
responses in tissues like the heart, where they
allow for synchronized contractions.
• Six connexin proteins assemble to form a
Gap Junctions
hemichannel, known as a connexon.
• Two connexons from adjacent cells align
to create a complete gap junction
channel.
• Allow the passage of small molecules (up
to about 1 kDa) including ions, second
messengers, and metabolites, but they
restrict larger proteins and nucleic acids.
Gap Junctions
cardiac muscle Gastrointestinal
Bladder
mucosa
Gap Junctions mutations
• Charcot marie tooth disease- Cx32 mutation
• Cardiomyopathy and Atrial fibrillation- Cx 40
• Sensorineural hearing loss- Cx 30
• Cataract- Cx43
Summary
• Tight junctions: maintaining the integrity and functionality of epithelial layers,
regulating what can pass between cells
• Adherens junctions: for cell adhesion contributing to the mechanical strength and
integrity of tissues.
• Desmosome: mechanical strength and structural integrity in tissues under stress.
• Hemidesmosomes: anchoring epithelial cells to the basement membrane, ensuring
tissue stability and integrity.
• Gap junctions: for cellular communication and play critical roles in maintaining tissue
homeostasis and function.
