mucosal surface

Definition: Mucosal surfaces are lined by epithelial cells that form a physical barrier protecting the body against external noxious substances and pathogens.

Pathology - Examples

 mucosal ulceration
 mucosal infiltration

Tight junctions (TJs)

At a molecular level, the mucosal barrier is regulated by tight junctions (TJs) that seal the paracellular space between adjacent epithelial cells.

Transmembrane proteins within TJs include junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) that belong to the cortical thymocyte marker for Xenopus family of proteins.

JAM family encompasses three classical members (JAM-A, JAM-B, and JAM-C) and related molecules including JAM4,

JAM-like protein, Coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR), CAR-like membrane protein and endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule.

JAMs have multiple functions that include regulation of endothelial and epithelial paracellular permeability, leukocyte recruitment during inflammation, angiogenesis, cell migration, and proliferation.

JAM family members are involved in the regulation of mucosal homeostasis and leukocyte trafficking with a particular emphasis on barrier function and its perturbation during pathological inflammation.

Open reviews

 JAM-related proteins in mucosal homeostasis and inflammation.
Luissint AC, Nusrat A, Parkos CA. Semin Immunopathol. 2014 Mar;36(2):211-26. doi : 10.1007/s00281-014-0421-0 PMID: 24667924 Free