Abstract
Epithelial cells are pivotal in the separation of the body from the outside environment. Orally administered drugs must pass across epithelial cell sheets, and most pathological organisms invade the body through epithelial cells. Tight junctions (TJs) are sealing complexes between adjacent epithelial cells. Modulation of TJ components is a potent strategy for increasing absorption. Inflammation often causes disruption of the TJ barrier. Molecular imaging technology has enabled elucidation of the dynamics of TJs. Molecular pathological analysis has shown the relationship between TJ components and molecular pathological conditions. In this article, we discuss TJ-targeted drug development over the past 2 years.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
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Bacterial Infections / metabolism
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Bacterial Infections / pathology
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Cell Membrane Permeability / drug effects
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Drug Delivery Systems
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Drug Discovery*
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Epithelial Cells / drug effects
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Epithelial Cells / immunology
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Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
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Epithelial Cells / pathology
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Epithelium / drug effects
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Epithelium / immunology
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Epithelium / metabolism
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Epithelium / pathology
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Humans
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Inflammation / drug therapy
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Inflammation / metabolism
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Inflammation / pathology
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Intestinal Diseases / drug therapy
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Intestinal Diseases / metabolism
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Intestinal Diseases / pathology
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Tight Junction Proteins / genetics
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Tight Junction Proteins / metabolism*
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Tight Junctions / drug effects
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Tight Junctions / immunology
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Tight Junctions / metabolism
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Tight Junctions / pathology*
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Virus Diseases / drug therapy
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Virus Diseases / metabolism
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Virus Diseases / pathology