Dynamics between actin and the VE-cadherin/catenin complex: novel aspects of the ARP2/3 complex in regulation of endothelial junctions

A Abu Taha, HJ Schnittler - Cell adhesion & migration, 2014 - Taylor & Francis
A Abu Taha, HJ Schnittler
Cell adhesion & migration, 2014Taylor & Francis
Endothelial adherens junctions are critical for physiological and pathological processes
such as differentiation, maintenance of entire monolayer integrity, and the remodeling. The
endothelial-specific VE-cadherin/catenin complex provides the backbone of adherens
junctions and acts in close interaction with actin filaments and actin/myosin-mediated
contractility to fulfill the junction demands. The functional connection between the
cadherin/catenin complex and actin filaments might be either directly through α-catenins, or …
Endothelial adherens junctions are critical for physiological and pathological processes such as differentiation, maintenance of entire monolayer integrity, and the remodeling. The endothelial-specific VE-cadherin/catenin complex provides the backbone of adherens junctions and acts in close interaction with actin filaments and actin/myosin-mediated contractility to fulfill the junction demands. The functional connection between the cadherin/catenin complex and actin filaments might be either directly through α-catenins, or indirectly e.g., via linker proteins such as vinculin, p120ctn, α-actinin, or EPLIN. However, both junction integrity and dynamic remodeling have to be contemporarily coordinated. The actin-related protein complex ARP2/3 and its activating molecules, such as N-WASP and WAVE, have been shown to regulate the lammellipodia-mediated formation of cell junctions in both epithelium and endothelium. Recent reports now demonstrate a novel aspect of the ARP2/3 complex and the nucleating-promoting factors in the maintenance of endothelial barrier function and junction remodeling of established endothelial cell junctions. Those mechanisms open novel possibilities; not only in fulfilling physiological demands but obtained information may be of critical importance in pathologies such as wound healing, angiogenesis, inflammation, and cell diapedesis.
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