Skip to main content
The American Journal of Pathology logoLink to The American Journal of Pathology
. 1990 Dec;137(6):1273–1281.

Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Award lecture. Pathobiology of the intestinal epithelial barrier.

J L Madara 1
PMCID: PMC1877712  PMID: 2260620

Abstract

The major route of passive permeation across intestinal epithelia is paracellular. The intercellular tight junction lies in and serves as the rate-limiting barrier in this paracellular pathway. Once viewed as static, it is now clear that the structure and permeability of the tight junction is highly dynamic. Not only may inflammatory events (cytokines, neutrophil transmigration) reversibly effect the tight junction but this key barrier also is regulated by physiologic events such as activation of absorptive cell Na(+)-nutrient cotransporters. Such physiologic regulation of the junction is of major importance to the absorption of nutrients via parcellular solvent drag.

Full text

PDF
1273

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Atisook K., Carlson S., Madara J. L. Effects of phlorizin and sodium on glucose-elicited alterations of cell junctions in intestinal epithelia. Am J Physiol. 1990 Jan;258(1 Pt 1):C77–C85. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1990.258.1.C77. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BORGSTROM B., DAHLQVIST A., LUNDH G., SJOVALL J. Studies of intestinal digestion and absorption in the human. J Clin Invest. 1957 Oct;36(10):1521–1536. doi: 10.1172/JCI103549. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bakker R., Groot J. A. cAMP-mediated effects of ouabain and theophylline on paracellular ion selectivity. Am J Physiol. 1984 Feb;246(2 Pt 1):G213–G217. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.1984.246.2.G213. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bentzel C. J., Hainau B., Ho S., Hui S. W., Edelman A., Anagnostopoulos T., Benedetti E. L. Cytoplasmic regulation of tight-junction permeability: effect of plant cytokinins. Am J Physiol. 1980 Sep;239(3):C75–C89. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1980.239.3.C75. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Burgess D. R. Reactivation of intestinal epithelial cell brush border motility: ATP-dependent contraction via a terminal web contractile ring. J Cell Biol. 1982 Dec;95(3):853–863. doi: 10.1083/jcb.95.3.853. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. CUMMINS A. J. Absorption of glucose and methionine from the human intestine; the influence of the glucose concentration in the blood and in the intestinal lumen. J Clin Invest. 1952 Oct;31(10):928–937. doi: 10.1172/JCI102681. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Cereijido M., Robbins E. S., Dolan W. J., Rotunno C. A., Sabatini D. D. Polarized monolayers formed by epithelial cells on a permeable and translucent support. J Cell Biol. 1978 Jun;77(3):853–880. doi: 10.1083/jcb.77.3.853. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Citi S., Sabanay H., Jakes R., Geiger B., Kendrick-Jones J. Cingulin, a new peripheral component of tight junctions. Nature. 1988 May 19;333(6170):272–276. doi: 10.1038/333272a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Claude P., Goodenough D. A. Fracture faces of zonulae occludentes from "tight" and "leaky" epithelia. J Cell Biol. 1973 Aug;58(2):390–400. doi: 10.1083/jcb.58.2.390. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Claude P. Morphological factors influencing transepithelial permeability: a model for the resistance of the zonula occludens. J Membr Biol. 1978 Mar 10;39(2-3):219–232. doi: 10.1007/BF01870332. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Cramer E. B., Milks L. C., Ojakian G. K. Transepithelial migration of human neutrophils: an in vitro model system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1980 Jul;77(7):4069–4073. doi: 10.1073/pnas.77.7.4069. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Dharmsathaphorn K., McRoberts J. A., Mandel K. G., Tisdale L. D., Masui H. A human colonic tumor cell line that maintains vectorial electrolyte transport. Am J Physiol. 1984 Feb;246(2 Pt 1):G204–G208. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.1984.246.2.G204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Diamond J. M., Wright E. M. Biological membranes: the physical basis of ion and nonelectrolyte selectivity. Annu Rev Physiol. 1969;31:581–646. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ph.31.030169.003053. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Drenckhahn D., Dermietzel R. Organization of the actin filament cytoskeleton in the intestinal brush border: a quantitative and qualitative immunoelectron microscope study. J Cell Biol. 1988 Sep;107(3):1037–1048. doi: 10.1083/jcb.107.3.1037. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Duffey M. E., Hainau B., Ho S., Bentzel C. J. Regulation of epithelial tight junction permeability by cyclic AMP. Nature. 1981 Dec 3;294(5840):451–453. doi: 10.1038/294451a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Evans C. W., Taylor J. E., Walker J. D., Simmons N. L. Transepithelial chemotaxis of rat peritoneal exudate cells. Br J Exp Pathol. 1983 Dec;64(6):644–654. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. FARQUHAR M. G., PALADE G. E. Junctional complexes in various epithelia. J Cell Biol. 1963 May;17:375–412. doi: 10.1083/jcb.17.2.375. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Frizzell R. A., Schultz S. G. Ionic conductances of extracellular shunt pathway in rabbit ileum. Influence of shunt on transmural sodium transport and electrical potential differences. J Gen Physiol. 1972 Mar;59(3):318–346. doi: 10.1085/jgp.59.3.318. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Gumbiner B. Structure, biochemistry, and assembly of epithelial tight junctions. Am J Physiol. 1987 Dec;253(6 Pt 1):C749–C758. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1987.253.6.C749. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Hecht G., Pothoulakis C., LaMont J. T., Madara J. L. Clostridium difficile toxin A perturbs cytoskeletal structure and tight junction permeability of cultured human intestinal epithelial monolayers. J Clin Invest. 1988 Nov;82(5):1516–1524. doi: 10.1172/JCI113760. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Jodal M., Lundgren O. Countercurrent mechanisms in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. Gastroenterology. 1986 Jul;91(1):225–241. doi: 10.1016/0016-5085(86)90463-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Keller T. C., 3rd, Mooseker M. S. Ca++-calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of myosin, and its role in brush border contraction in vitro. J Cell Biol. 1982 Dec;95(3):943–959. doi: 10.1083/jcb.95.3.943. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Kumar N. B., Nostrant T. T., Appelman H. D. The histopathologic spectrum of acute self-limited colitis (acute infectious-type colitis). Am J Surg Pathol. 1982 Sep;6(6):523–529. doi: 10.1097/00000478-198209000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Macleod J. J., Magee H. E., Purves C. B. Selective absorption of carbohydrates. J Physiol. 1930 Dec 4;70(4):404–416. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1930.sp002704. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Madara J. L., Barenberg D., Carlson S. Effects of cytochalasin D on occluding junctions of intestinal absorptive cells: further evidence that the cytoskeleton may influence paracellular permeability and junctional charge selectivity. J Cell Biol. 1986 Jun;102(6):2125–2136. doi: 10.1083/jcb.102.6.2125. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Madara J. L., Dharmsathaphorn K. Occluding junction structure-function relationships in a cultured epithelial monolayer. J Cell Biol. 1985 Dec;101(6):2124–2133. doi: 10.1083/jcb.101.6.2124. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Madara J. L. Increases in guinea pig small intestinal transepithelial resistance induced by osmotic loads are accompanied by rapid alterations in absorptive-cell tight-junction structure. J Cell Biol. 1983 Jul;97(1):125–136. doi: 10.1083/jcb.97.1.125. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Madara J. L. Intestinal absorptive cell tight junctions are linked to cytoskeleton. Am J Physiol. 1987 Jul;253(1 Pt 1):C171–C175. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1987.253.1.C171. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Madara J. L. Loosening tight junctions. Lessons from the intestine. J Clin Invest. 1989 Apr;83(4):1089–1094. doi: 10.1172/JCI113987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Madara J. L., Moore R., Carlson S. Alteration of intestinal tight junction structure and permeability by cytoskeletal contraction. Am J Physiol. 1987 Dec;253(6 Pt 1):C854–C861. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1987.253.6.C854. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Madara J. L., Pappenheimer J. R. Structural basis for physiological regulation of paracellular pathways in intestinal epithelia. J Membr Biol. 1987;100(2):149–164. doi: 10.1007/BF02209147. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Madara J. L., Stafford J., Barenberg D., Carlson S. Functional coupling of tight junctions and microfilaments in T84 monolayers. Am J Physiol. 1988 Mar;254(3 Pt 1):G416–G423. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.1988.254.3.G416. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Madara J. L., Stafford J. Interferon-gamma directly affects barrier function of cultured intestinal epithelial monolayers. J Clin Invest. 1989 Feb;83(2):724–727. doi: 10.1172/JCI113938. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Madara J. L., Trier J. S. Structure and permeability of goblet cell tight junctions in rat small intestine. J Membr Biol. 1982;66(2):145–157. doi: 10.1007/BF01868490. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Marcial M. A., Carlson S. L., Madara J. L. Partitioning of paracellular conductance along the ileal crypt-villus axis: a hypothesis based on structural analysis with detailed consideration of tight junction structure-function relationships. J Membr Biol. 1984;80(1):59–70. doi: 10.1007/BF01868690. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Meza I., Ibarra G., Sabanero M., Martínez-Palomo A., Cereijido M. Occluding junctions and cytoskeletal components in a cultured transporting epithelium. J Cell Biol. 1980 Dec;87(3 Pt 1):746–754. doi: 10.1083/jcb.87.3.746. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Mooseker M. S. Organization, chemistry, and assembly of the cytoskeletal apparatus of the intestinal brush border. Annu Rev Cell Biol. 1985;1:209–241. doi: 10.1146/annurev.cb.01.110185.001233. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Mullin J. M., O'Brien T. G. Effects of tumor promoters on LLC-PK1 renal epithelial tight junctions and transepithelial fluxes. Am J Physiol. 1986 Oct;251(4 Pt 1):C597–C602. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1986.251.4.C597. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Nash S., Stafford J., Madara J. L. Effects of polymorphonuclear leukocyte transmigration on the barrier function of cultured intestinal epithelial monolayers. J Clin Invest. 1987 Oct;80(4):1104–1113. doi: 10.1172/JCI113167. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Nash S., Stafford J., Madara J. L. The selective and superoxide-independent disruption of intestinal epithelial tight junctions during leukocyte transmigration. Lab Invest. 1988 Oct;59(4):531–537. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Ojakian G. K. Tumor promoter-induced changes in the permeability of epithelial cell tight junctions. Cell. 1981 Jan;23(1):95–103. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(81)90274-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Palant C. E., Duffey M. E., Mookerjee B. K., Ho S., Bentzel C. J. Ca2+ regulation of tight-junction permeability and structure in Necturus gallbladder. Am J Physiol. 1983 Sep;245(3):C203–C212. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1983.245.3.C203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Pappenheimer J. R. Physiological regulation of transepithelial impedance in the intestinal mucosa of rats and hamsters. J Membr Biol. 1987;100(2):137–148. doi: 10.1007/BF02209146. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Pappenheimer J. R., Reiss K. Z. Contribution of solvent drag through intercellular junctions to absorption of nutrients by the small intestine of the rat. J Membr Biol. 1987;100(2):123–136. doi: 10.1007/BF02209145. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Phillips T. E., Phillips T. L., Neutra M. R. Macromolecules can pass through occluding junctions of rat ileal epithelium during cholinergic stimulation. Cell Tissue Res. 1987 Mar;247(3):547–554. doi: 10.1007/BF00215748. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Pitelka D. R., Taggart B. N. Mechanical tension induces lateral movement of intramembrane components of the tight junction: studies on mouse mammary cells in culture. J Cell Biol. 1983 Mar;96(3):606–612. doi: 10.1083/jcb.96.3.606. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Powell D. W. Barrier function of epithelia. Am J Physiol. 1981 Oct;241(4):G275–G288. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.1981.241.4.G275. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. Pricam C., Humbert F., Perrelet A., Orci L. A freeze-etch study of the tight junctions of the rat kidney tubules. Lab Invest. 1974 Mar;30(3):286–291. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  49. Rodewald R., Newman S. B., Karnovsky M. J. Contraction of isolated brush borders from the intestinal epithelium. J Cell Biol. 1976 Sep;70(3):541–554. doi: 10.1083/jcb.70.3.541. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  50. Schneeberger E. E. Heterogeneity of tight junction morphology in extrapulmonary and intrapulmonary airways of the rat. Anat Rec. 1980 Oct;198(2):193–208. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091980207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  51. Smyth D. H., Wright E. M. Streaming potentials in the rat small intestine. J Physiol. 1966 Feb;182(3):591–602. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1966.sp007839. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  52. Stevenson B. R., Goodenough D. A. Zonulae occludentes in junctional complex-enriched fractions from mouse liver: preliminary morphological and biochemical characterization. J Cell Biol. 1984 Apr;98(4):1209–1221. doi: 10.1083/jcb.98.4.1209. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  53. Triadafilopoulos G., Pothoulakis C., O'Brien M. J., LaMont J. T. Differential effects of Clostridium difficile toxins A and B on rabbit ileum. Gastroenterology. 1987 Aug;93(2):273–279. doi: 10.1016/0016-5085(87)91014-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The American Journal of Pathology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Investigative Pathology

RESOURCES