Endothelial junction and barrier-related proteins

Endothelial junction and barrier-related proteins are a collective group of molecules essential for maintaining the semi-permeable barrier of the vascular endothelium, which regulates the exchange of fluids, solutes, and cells between the blood and tissues (Dejana, 2004). These proteins are organized into distinct complexes, most notably adherens junctions (AJs) and tight junctions (TJs). Adherens junctions are characterized by Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin), which links adjacent cells and connects to the actin cytoskeleton via catenins. Tight junctions, comprising proteins such as Claudin-5, Occludin, and Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), form the primary seal that restricts paracellular diffusion (Anderson & Van Itallie, 2009). Dysfunction or breakdown of these protein complexes is a central feature of various diseases, including sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and diabetic retinopathy, where excessive vascular leakage leads to edema and organ failure (Komarova et al., 2017). Pharmacological agents like Imatinib and glucocorticoids are used to stabilize these junctions by inhibiting pro-permeability signaling or increasing the expression of junctional components (Aman et al., 2012). Conversely, targeted disruption of these proteins is explored as a strategy to enhance the delivery of therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Other names

Endothelial junctional proteinsVascular barrier proteinsEndothelial cell-cell adhesion moleculesBlood-brain barrier proteins

Stabilization of adherens and tight junctions through inhibition of protein phosphorylation, promotion of junctional protein assembly, and antagonism of pro-permeability signaling pathways.