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Fundamentals of biology and thermodynamics
Published in Mohammad E. Khosroshahi, Applications of Biophotonics and Nanobiomaterials in Biomedical Engineering, 2017
Cell junctions occur at many points of cell-cell and cell-matrix contact in all tissues. There are four major classes of junctions:Tight junctions, which connect epithelial cells that line the intestine and prevent the passage of fluids, through the cell layersGap junctions, which are distributed along the lateral surfaces of adjacent cells, and allow the cells to exchange small molecules for metabolic coupling among adjacent cellsCell-cell junctions which perform the primary function of holding cells into a tissueCell-matrix junctions, which also perform the primary function of holding cells into a tissue.
Centralized Endothelial Mechanobiology, Endothelial Dysfunction, and Atherosclerosis
Published in Jiro Nagatomi, Eno Essien Ebong, Mechanobiology Handbook, 2018
Ian Chandler Harding, Eno Essien Ebong
Cell-to-cell junctions are prime examples of decentralized mechanotransduction structures. They contain a variety of multiprotein complexes that are used to maintain contact between neighboring cells and to support physiological functions such as paracellular permeability and cell-to-cell communication. The major complexes at cell-to-cell junctions are adherens junctions, tight junctions, and gap junctions. Adherens junctions are protein complexes that create extracellular bridges between neighboring cells, initiate and stabilize cell-to-cell contact, and affect cellular processes such as intracellular signaling and transcriptional regulation [153]. Adherens junctions are formed by the transmembrane protein vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) (Figure 7.4), which is then attached to the actin cytoskeleton through a series of catenin family proteins [154]. Another cell-to-cell junction, tight junctions, help regulate paracellular permeability. They are mainly composed of two transmembrane proteins, occludins and claudins, which are similarly linked to the actin cytoskeleton by linker proteins, mainly the zonula occludens (ZO) proteins 1, 2, and 3 (ZO-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3) [153]. Lastly, gap junctions are intercellular channels created by proteins called connexins [155]. These proteins allow for the diffusion of ions and small molecules, thereby allowing cellular communication [155]. Additionally, the aforementioned junctions and proteins are accompanied by other junctional proteins such as platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), which can both bridge ECs and serve as an anchor for circulating platelets and blood cells.
Carbon-based nanomaterials as scaffolds in bone regeneration
Published in Particulate Science and Technology, 2020
Liana Crisan, Bogdan Vasile Crisan, Simion Bran, Florin Onisor, Gabriel Armencea, Sergiu Vacaras, Ondine Patricia Lucaciu, Ileana Mitre, Mihaela Baciut, Grigore Baciut, Cristian Dinu
The majority of cellular adhesion molecules are part of 5 protein families. This constellation of cellular adhesion molecules allows the cells to form multicellular organisms, to form specific tissues, to interact with one another, allowing the deployment of some complex functions such as cell motility metabolism and cell division. As a result of the adhesion process, the cells develop specific cell junctions, which are made up of conglomerates of adhesion molecules that will stabilize these interactions and will promote the communication between cells.