Claudins: multifunctional players in epithelial tight junctions and their role in cancer |
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Authors: | S S Oliveira J A Morgado-Díaz |
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Institution: | 1.Grupo de Biologia Estrutural, Divis?o de Biologia Celular, Centro de Pesquisas,Instituto Nacional de Cancer,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil |
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Abstract: | The molecular architecture of tight junctions has been a subject of extensive studies that have shown tight junctions to be
composed of many peripheral and integral membrane proteins. Claudins have been considered the main tight junction-forming
proteins; however, the role they play in a series of pathophysiological events, including human carcinoma development, is
only now beginning to be understood. Increasing evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies have identified the influence of claudins on tight junction structure and function, although claudins also participate
in cellular contexts other than tight junctions. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the conceptual framework
concerning claudins, focusing on the involvement of these proteins in epithelial cell polarity establishment, paracellular
transport control, signal transduction and tumorigenesis.
Received 5 July 2006; received after revision 29 August 2006; accepted 29 September 2006 |
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Keywords: | Claudin tight junction cell signaling permeability barrier cell polarity tumor suppression |
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