Proteins of the SNX (sorting nexin) superfamily are characterized by the presence of a PX (Phox homology) domain and associate with PtdIns3P (phosphatidylinositol-3-monophosphate)-rich regions of the endosomal system. SNX27 is the only sorting nexin that contains a PDZ domain. In the present study, we used a proteomic approach to identify a novel interaction between SNX27 and ZO-2 [zonula occlu...

Zonula occludens proteins (ZO-1, ZO-2, ZO-3), which belong to the family of membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) homologs, serve as molecular hubs for the assembly of multi-protein networks at the cytoplasmic surface of intercellular contacts in epithelial and endothelial cells. These multi-PDZ proteins exert crucial functions in the structural organization of intercellular contacts and...

For the zonula adherens (ZA) to be established by linear-arrangement of adherens junctions (AJs) in epithelial sheet cells, critical for the epithelial cell sheet formation and intercellular barrier function, myosin-2 is supposedly integrated into the ZA with the result of overlapping localization of E-cadherin/actin/myosin-2. Here we immunofluorescently showed that myosin-2 failed to be integr...

Acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) is one of the most frequently prescribed medications for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. It has recently been reported to cause small intestinal mucosal injury at a considerably higher rate than previously believed. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanism by which this occurs using an in vitro small intestine model...

PURPOSE To investigate the role of RPE cell-cell contact in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression in cultures of primary human RPE (hRPE) cells and a human RPE cell line (ARPE-19). METHODS Two in vitro methods, scratching and micropatterning, were used to control the physical dissociation of RPE cell-cell junctions. Scratching was performed by scoring monolayers of RPE ...

Our previous report has shown that Irsogladine maleate (IM) counters and obviates the reduction in gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) and the increase in IL-8 levels, respectively, induced by outer membrane protein 29 from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) in cultured human gingival epithelial cells (HGEC). In addition, IM suppresses the increase in th...

BACKGROUND Vascular permeability factor/Vascular endothelial growth factor (VPF/VEGF), a multifunctional cytokine, is a potent inducer of vascular permeability, an important early step in angiogenesis. It is known that the neurotransmitter dopamine can inhibit VPF/VEGF mediated angiogenesis, in particular microvascular permeability, but the effectors of this action remain unclear. RESULTS Her...

Epithelia within tubular organs form and expand lumens. Failure of these processes can result in serious developmental anomalies. Although tight junction assembly is crucial to epithelial polarization, the contribution of specific tight junction proteins to lumenogenesis is undefined. Here, we show that ZO-1 (also known as TJP1) is necessary for the formation of single lumens. Epithelia lacking...

INTRODUCTION Ginger has a long history of medicinal use, particularly as an anti-inflammatory agent for a wide variety of diseases such as arthritis. Suppression of inflammation in arthritis is attributed to suppression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines produced by synoviocytes, chondrocytes, and leukocytes. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to elucidate the effect of a combination ginger ...