Tight junctions and cell-cell interactions

Methods Mol Biol. 2006:341:185-95. doi: 10.1385/1-59745-113-4:185.

Abstract

Chronic inflammation in mucosal tissues can influence epithelial barrier function via pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Increased mucosal levels of these cytokines have been observed in mucosal biopsies from patients with a chronic inflammatory condition referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Paracellular permeability across epithelial cells is regulated by tight junctions (TJs), which are the apical most junctions in epithelial cells. Given that pro-inflammatory cytokines modulate the epithelial barrier and that TJs regulate epithelial permeability, we analyzed the influence of IFN-gamma on U function/structure. Our results suggest that IFN-gamma induced a time-dependent increase in paracellular permeability that was associated with internalization of TJ transmembrane proteins, occludin, junction adhesion molecule A, and claudin-1. In this chapter, we focus on selected methods used to investigate the influence of IFN-gamma on epithelial barrier function.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cell Communication* / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Electric Impedance
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / metabolism
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / pathology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism*
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Permeability / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Tight Junctions / metabolism*
  • Tight Junctions / pathology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interferon-gamma