Tight junctions (TJ) are specialized structures that form a barrier between epithelial cells, regulating the passage of substances between the cells and maintaining the integrity of tissue. They play a crucial role in maintaining cell polarity, tissue homeostasis, and the selective permeability of epithelial layers.
1.Overexpression of some claudins (e.g., claudin-1, -3, -4) in certain cancers is often associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis (protumor effects).
2.Downregulation or mislocalization of occludin and ZO proteins is generally linked to loss of cell–cell adhesion, EMT, and worse outcomes.
3.In contrast, loss of claudin-7 can remove its tumor suppressor functions, thereby facilitating invasion.
The expression and impact of tight junction components in cancer is an area of active research—each protein can have dual roles (protumor or tumor suppressive) based on the tumor type, the molecular context, and the stage of disease progression.
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