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Review
. 2014 Apr;50(1):1-5.
doi: 10.4068/cmj.2014.50.1.1. Epub 2014 Apr 22.

The apical junctional complex in respiratory diseases

An-Soo Jang  1
Affiliations
Review

The apical junctional complex in respiratory diseases

An-Soo Jang. Chonnam Med J. 2014 Apr.

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.

Keywords: Epithelium; Permeability; Tight junctions.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
Apical junctional complexes. The AJC includes adherent junctions (AJs) and tight junctions (TJs).
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
Acrolein can induce acute lung injury through changes in claudin 5 expression. (A) Endothelial barrier integrity. (B) Acute changes in permeability. (C) Loss of endothelial cell-cell junctions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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