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Intercellular Junction and
Communication
Dr. Shiva Upadhaya
MBBS, MD Clinical Physiology Objectives:
• To describe about intercellular junctions and
communication. Intercellular Junctions • Junction formed between the cell are called intercellular junction. • Types: A) junctions that tie cells together. 1) Tight junctions. 2) Anchoring junctions. a) Cell to cell anchoring junction. -Desmosome. -Zonula adherens. Intercellular Junctions b) Cell to basal lamina anchoring junctions. -Hemidesmosome. -Focal adhesion. B)Junctions that allow transfer of ions and small molecules: 1) Gap junctions. Tight Junctions • Tight junctions are commonly found in epithelium of GI tract, nephrons, urinary tract, hepatobiliary tract and choroid plexus. • Located towards apical region of cells. Tight Junctions • At tight junctions, outer layer of cell membrane of neighboring cells fuse with each other that obliterates the intercellular space close to their apical margin. • They form the barrier for transport of solute and solvent from lumen into interstitial space and between cells. • Membrane proteins that contribute to formation of tight junction belong to three families: occludin, claudins and junctional adhesion molecules. Desmosomes • They are the junctions characterized by focal thickening of two adjacent cell membrane. • Thickened area is presence of dense layer of proteins on the cytoplasmic surface of membrane. Zonula Adherens • Located below the base of tight junctions. • Major site of attachment for intracellular microfilaments. • Cadherins are present in intercellular junction. Hemidesmosomes • Look like half of desmosomes. • Microfilaments are attached to it intracellularly. • Laminar-cellular space between two membrane containing filamentous cell adhesion called as integrins. Focal Adhesions • It connect cell to basal lamina. • Intracellularly, they are associated with actin filaments so they assist in cell movements. Gap Junction • It is made up of special transmembrane protein-connexons. Gap Junctions • Gap junctions are clusters of intercellular channels that allow direct diffusion of ions and small molecules between adjacent cells. • At gap junctions, the intercellular space narrows from 25 nm to 3 nm. • The functional unit of the gap junction is the connexon. • A connexon is composed of six integral membrane protein subunits called connexins. • Gap junctions were first discovered in myocardium and nerve because of their properties of electrical transmission between adjacent cells (Weidmann 1952; Furshpan and Potter 1957). Gap Junctions • Functions: -Electrical synapses. -Permit passage of organic solute such as sugar and aminoacids. -Chemical messengers and hormones are also exchanged between cell through gap junction. Intercellular communications • Intercellular communication refers to the transfer of information from one cell to another. • It is also called cell signaling . • The cells of the body communicate with each other through some chemical substances called chemical messengers. • The cell which releases signaling molecules is called the signaling cell. • The cell which responds to the signaling molecules is called the target cell. Intercellular Communication Thank You