Cell junctions and oral health

Authors

  • Mohammad Samiei Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
  • Elham Ahmadian Dental and Periodontal Research center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Students Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
  • Aziz Eftekhari Pharmacology and Toxicology department, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
  • Mohammad Ali Eghbal Drug Applied Research Center and Pharmacology and Toxicology department, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
  • Fereshte Rezaie General Practitioner, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
  • Mathieu Vinken Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium; Telephone: +3224774587; fax: +3224774582, mathieu.vinken@vub.be

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2019-1370

Keywords:

Tight junction, gap junction, anchoring junction, oral health, oral disease

Abstract

The oral cavity and its appendices are exposed to considerable environmental and mechanical stress. This frequently involves cell junctions, which are goalkeepers of tissue homeostasis. Among those, gap junctions permit the exchange of compounds between cells, thereby controlling processes such as cell growth and differentiation. Tight junctions restrict paracellular transportation and inhibit movement of integral membrane proteins between the different plasma membrane poles. Adherens junctions attach cells one to another and provide a solid backbone for resisting to mechanistical stress. The integrity of oral mucosa, normal tooth development and saliva secretion depends on the proper function of all these types of cell junctions. Furthermore, deregulation of junctional proteins and/or mutations in their genes can alter tissue functioning and may result in various human disorders, including dental and periodontal problems, salivary gland malfunction, hereditary and infectious diseases as well as tumorigenesis. The present paper reviews the role of cell junctions in the (patho)physiology of the oral cavity and its appendices.

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Published

2019-06-07

How to Cite

Samiei, M., Ahmadian, E., Eftekhari, A., Eghbal, M. A., Rezaie, F., & Vinken, M. (2019). Cell junctions and oral health. EXCLI Journal, 18, 317–330. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2019-1370

Issue

Vol. 18 (2019)

Section

Review articles

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