Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Masahiko Itoh, Misao Terada, Hiroyuki Sugimoto
Summary: The study highlights the crucial role of tight junctions in regulating the hepatic barrier and the detrimental effects of disrupting tight junctions on liver tissue. Loss of ZO-1 and ZO-2 impairs the structure and function of hepatocyte tight junctions, ultimately leading to lethality in mice.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia Fiedler, Thomas Moennig, Johanna H. Hinrichs, Annika Weber, Thomas Wagner, Tim Hemmer, Rita Schroeter, Thomas Weide, Daniel Epting, Carsten Bergmann, Pavel Nedvetsky, Michael P. Krahn
Summary: The conserved protein PATJ stabilizes the Crumbs-Pals1 complex to regulate polarity and tight junction formation. In this study, it was found that PATJ interacts with and inhibits HDAC7. Inhibition of HDAC7 restores polarity and lumen formation in epithelial cells. The main function of the Pals1-PATJ complex is to modulate the transcriptional profile of epithelial cells by inhibiting HDAC7.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Daniel Maucher, Birte Schmidt, Julia Schumann
Summary: Dysfunction of the endothelial barrier is central in inflammatory processes like sepsis and atherosclerosis. In this study, cytokine-induced weakening of the endothelial barrier was associated with changes in the transcriptome and upregulation of miR-29a-3p, miR-29b-3p, and miR-155-5p, which target central adhesion proteins' mRNAs. This suggests a posttranscriptional mechanism regulated by inflammatory cytokines.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Marta Justyna Koziel, Maksymilian Ziaja, Agnieszka Wanda Piastowska-Ciesielska
Summary: The intestinal barrier acts as the main defense against substances entering the body, ensuring balance in the organism; Mycotoxins, toxic fungi metabolites, may disrupt homeostasis by affecting the intestinal barrier; Claudins, proteins involved in tight junction formation between epithelial cells, play a significant role in responding to mycotoxin-induced cytotoxicity.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Deborah Delbue, Lydia Lebenheim, Danielle Cardoso-Silva, Violaine Dony, Susanne M. Krug, Jan F. Richter, Subhakankha Manna, Melba Munoz, Kerstin Wolk, Claudia Heldt, Markus M. Heimesaat, Robert Sabat, Britta Siegmund, Michael Schumann
Summary: IL-22 impairs intestinal epithelial cell barrier by inducing EMT, causing defects in epithelial cell polarity and increasing cell motility and cell invasion. IL-22 modulates TJ protein expression and mediates tight junctional (TJal) barrier defects via ERK pathway.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rina Hashimoto, Junya Takahashi, Keisuke Shirakura, Risa Funatsu, Kaori Kosugi, Sayaka Deguchi, Masaki Yamamoto, Yugo Tsunoda, Maaya Morita, Kosuke Muraoka, Masato Tanaka, Tomoaki Kanbara, Shota Tanaka, Shigeyuki Tamiya, Nagisa Tokunoh, Atsushi Kawai, Masahito Ikawa, Chikako Ono, Keisuke Tachibana, Masuo Kondoh, Masanori Obana, Yoshiharu Matsuura, Akihiro Ohsumi, Takeshi Noda, Takuya Yamamoto, Yasuo Yoshioka, Yu-Suke Torisawa, Hiroshi Date, Yasushi Fujio, Miki Nagao, Kazuo Takayama, Yoshiaki Okada
Summary: This study found that SARS-CoV-2 decreases the expression of Claudin-5 (CLDN5), a tight junction protein, and disrupts vascular endothelial cadherin-mediated adherens junctions, thereby leading to the disruption of the endothelial barrier in respiratory organs. The down-regulation of CLDN5 expression was observed in the lungs of a COVID-19 patient. The overexpression of CLDN5 or treatment with Fluvastatin rescued the SARS-CoV-2-induced respiratory endothelial barrier disruption. Inducing CLDN5 expression is identified as a therapeutic strategy against COVID-19.
Correction
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengdie Chen, Yuyu Liu, Shanbai Xiong, Moucheng Wu, Bin Li, Zheng Ruan, Xiaobo Hu
Summary: This study investigated the effect of dietary L-tryptophan on the regulation of tight junctions in LPS-induced intestinal barrier injury in a Caco-2 cell monolayer model.
Article
Immunology
Dylan Krajewski, Debayon Paul, Shujun Ge, Evan Jellison, Joel S. Pachter
Summary: In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), claudin-5 (CLN-5) was found on leukocytes in the blood and central nervous system (CNS), potentially facilitating leukocyte transendothelial migration (TEM) across the blood-brain barrier. Flow cytometry analysis showed CLN-5(+) populations among various leukocyte subtypes, with higher levels in CNS tissue than in blood, suggesting preferential access to the CNS. This novel mechanism may guide leukocytes to sites for diapedesis across the BBB.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Huinan Qu, Qiu Jin, Chengshi Quan
Summary: CLDN6, a member of the CLDNs family, is highly expressed in fetal tissues but not in corresponding adult tissues, with its expression regulated by various factors. It plays a key role in barrier formation and has been associated with the development of various cancers, affecting tumor phenotypes and key signaling pathways. Due to its role in tumors and low expression in normal tissues, CLDN6 is an ideal target for tumor therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Tremblay, Melissa Simard, Sophie Morin, Roxane Pouliot
Summary: The study demonstrated that supplementation of cell culture media with Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can enhance the barrier function of skin substitutes, reducing testosterone permeability and improving lipid profile. It was found that DHA supplementation affects the expression of tight junction proteins, particularly increasing claudin-1 expression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhenzhuo Li, Rui Jiang, Manying Wang, Lu Zhai, Jianzeng Liu, Xiaohao Xu, Liwei Sun, Daqing Zhao
Summary: This study reveals the potential of ginsenosides (GS) in preventing skin photoaging by protecting the skin barrier. The researchers identified the main monomeric constituents of GS and found that GS protects the skin barrier by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway, as shown in experiments on hairless mice and HaCaT cells.
JOURNAL OF GINSENG RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Raven J. Peterson, Michael Koval
Summary: Integrins, traditionally known for their role in cell adhesion and signaling, are now also recognized for their apical localization and interaction with proteins to regulate various cellular processes.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Physiology
Erasmia Rouka, Natalia Gourgoulianni, Stefan Lupold, Chrissi Hatzoglou, Konstantinos Gourgoulianis, Wolf U. Blanckenhorn, Sotirios G. Zarogiannis
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the functions of Drosophila melanogaster SJ-related proteins, their human orthologs, and protein domain families, highlighting their roles in morphogenetic events and cellular signaling. The investigation also reveals the presence of conserved domains in SJ-related proteins essential for cell-cell interactions, cell polarity, signaling, and immunity, and identifies novel human genes as putative functional homologs of fruit fly SJ genes. Further research is needed to explore the domains present in proteins encoded by eight SJ-associated genes.
Article
Allergy
Roman Mannweiler, Sophia Bergmann, Sabine Vidal-y-Sy, Johanna M. Brandner, Dorothee Guenzel
Summary: This study utilized impedance spectroscopy to separate the barrier properties of the stratum corneum (SC) and viable epidermis (VE), and evaluate the impact of Cldn1 and 4 knockdown on the skin barrier. The results showed that the resistance drop induced by Cldn1 knockdown arises from impairment of both SC and VE, and non-invasive detection of Cldn1 knockdown was achieved through time-dependent frequency shifts with hyperosmolar electrolyte penetration.
Article
Immunology
Jiahui Li, Kai Wang, Bo Huang, Rui Li, Xilong Wang, Hailing Zhang, Haixiong Tang, Xin Chen
Summary: The study demonstrated that RAGE signaling mediates airway epithelial barrier dysfunction in a LPS-induced ALI murine model, and inhibition of RAGE effectively alleviates airway inflammation and injury.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Dermatology
Franziska Peters, Frederik Tellkamp, Susanne Brodesser, Emmi Wachsmuth, Bettina Tosetti, Ulrike Karow, Wilhelm Bloch, Olaf Utermoehlen, Martin Kroenke, Carien M. Niessen
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Laura Polanyi, Carien M. Niessen, Christina Vohlen, Julia Stinn, Tobias Kretschmer, Vanessa Jentgen, Dharmesh Hirani, Silke V. Koningsbruggen-Rietschel, Joerg Doetsch, Miguel A. Alejandre Alcazar
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE-JMM
(2020)
Article
Virology
Rebecca Bayliss, James Wheeldon, Stephan M. Caucheteux, Carien M. Niessen, Vincent Piguet
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michele M. Nava, Yekaterina A. Miroshnikova, Leah C. Biggs, Daniel B. Whitefield, Franziska Metge, Jorge Boucas, Helena Vihinen, Eija Jokitalo, Xinping Li, Juan Manuel Garcia Arcos, Bernd Hoffmann, Rudolf Merkel, Carien M. Niessen, Kris Noel Dahl, Sara A. Wickstrom
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kathleen J. Green, Quinn Roth-Carter, Carien M. Niessen, Scott A. Nichols
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Carien M. Niessen, Nicolas A. Plachta
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chen Jiang, Ahsan Javed, Laura Kaiser, Michele M. Nava, Rui Xu, Dominique T. Brandt, Dandan Zhao, Benjamin Mayer, Javier Fernandez-Baldovinos, Luping Zhou, Carsten Hoess, Kovilen Sawmynaden, Arkadiusz Oleksy, David Matthews, Lee S. Weinstein, Heidi Hahn, Hermann-Josef Groene, Peter L. Graumann, Carien M. Niessen, Stefan Offermanns, Sara A. Wickstroem, Thomas Worzfeld
Summary: The study reveals the crucial role of B-plexins in responding to mechanical forces induced by crowding, impacting cell proliferation and tissue growth in epithelial development. Plexin-B1 and Plexin-B2 sense mechanical compression of epidermal stem cells, leading to the inactivation of YAP and suppression of cell proliferation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Dermatology
Raneem Tayem, Catherin Niemann, Monika Pesch, Jessica Morgner, Carien M. Niessen, Sara A. Wickstrom, Monique Aumailley
Summary: Research indicates that loss of Lm332 leads to epidermolysis bullosa junctionalis. The absence of Lm332 promotes skin thickening and desquamation, resulting in modifications to the keratinocyte genetic program.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Dermatology
Oana D. Persa, Janis Koester, Carien M. Niessen
Summary: The mammalian skin plays a crucial role in protecting the organism and facilitating communication with the environment. However, aging and external influences like UVR can compromise skin function and regeneration, potentially leading to skin cancer. More research is needed to understand how aging impacts tissue architecture and cell dynamics in skin homeostasis and regeneration, and whether these changes contribute to the development of skin cancer.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jorg Hoehfeld, Thomas Benzing, Wilhelm Bloch, Dieter O. Fuerst, Sebastian Gehlert, Michael Hesse, Bernd Hoffmann, Thorsten Hoppe, Pitter F. Huesgen, Maja Koehn, Waldemar Kolanus, Rudolf Merkel, Carien M. Niessen, Wojciech Pokrzywa, Markus M. Rinschen, Dagmar Wachten, Bettina Warscheid
Summary: Mechanical stress can threaten protein structure and proteome integrity, but cells have folding and degradation systems to combat this stress. These systems play crucial roles in cell differentiation, adhesion, and migration, and are essential for maintaining the integrity of various tissues.
Article
Cell Biology
Janis Koester, Yekaterina A. Miroshnikova, Sushmita Ghatak, Carlos Andres Chacon-Martinez, Jessica Morgner, Xinping Li, Ilian Atanassov, Janine Altmueller, David E. Birk, Manuel Koch, Wilhelm Bloch, Michaela Bartusel, Carien M. Niessen, Alvaro Rada-Iglesias, Sara A. Wickstroem
Summary: The research reveals that as hair follicle stem cells age, their ability to activate bivalent genes for self-renewal and differentiation is reduced due to increased niche stiffness and subsequent epigenetic effects.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Sybille Koehler, Johanna Odenthal, Vivian Ludwig, David Unnersjo Jess, Martin Hoehne, Christian Juengst, Ferdi Grawe, Martin Helmstaedter, Johanna L. Janku, Carsten Bergmann, Peter F. Hoyer, H. Henning Hagmann, Gerd Walz, Wilhelm Bloch, Carien Niessen, Bernhard Schermer, Andreas Wodarz, Barry Denholm, Thomas Benzing, Sandra Iden, Paul T. Brinkkoetter
Summary: Podocyte injury is a major cause of glomerular diseases. The Par3 polarity complex is linked to actin regulators that maintain podocyte architecture. Par3A and Par3B have distinct functions in regulating cytoskeleton and synaptopodin localization.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Dermatology
Katrin Rietscher, Heinz-Georg Jahnke, Matthias Ruebsam, Eric W. Lin, Cristina Has, M. Bishr Omary, Carien M. Niessen, Thomas M. Magin
Summary: This study demonstrates that the multikinase inhibitor PKC412 can reduce keratin aggregation in patient-derived EBS keratinocytes and restore intercellular adhesion. The findings provide a proof of concept for the repurposing of existing drugs for the targeted treatment of EBS and pave the way for clinical trials using PKC412 in EBS patients.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Gladiola Goranci-Buzhala, Carien M. M. Niessen
Summary: The question of how adult stem cells coordinate their fate and behavior over time in vivo remains challenging. In this study, Moore et al. combine high-resolution live imaging in mice with machine learning tools to uncover temporally regulated tissue-scale patterns of Ca2+ signaling orchestrated by cycling basal stem cells of the skin epidermis.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Preeti Sahu, Daniel M. Sussman, Matthias Ruebsam, Aaron F. Mertz, Valerie Horsley, Eric R. Dufresne, Carien M. Niessen, M. Cristina Marchetti, M. Lisa Manning, J. M. Schwarz
