Table 2.

Cell-cell junction proteins in adult tendon.

Cell-Cell Junction Type		Possible Functions In Adult Tendon	References
Cadherins	N-cadherin	Response to mechanical load and growth factors, coupling with α-catenin	Barry 201478 Desai 201379 Keller 201180 Ralphs 200281
	Cadherin-11	Unknown role in adult tendon, but associated with strong cell adhesions in myofibroblasts	Pittet 200845
Connexins	Connexin-26	Mechanotransduction; other functions unknown	Maeda 201282
	Connexin-32	Mechanotransduction, stimulation of collagen production; other functions unknown	Maeda 201282 Ralphs 199865 Wagget 200666
	Connexin-43	Intercellular communication, movement of small molecules between cells in response to strain, coupling with actin cytoskeleton to facilitate mechanotransduction, tissue maintenance, suppression of collagen production, downregulation of IL-1β during inflammatory response	Banes 199983 Maeda 201282 Maeda 201584 Maeda 2017a85 Maeda 2017b86 Ralphs 199865 Wagget 200666 Wall 200787
Tight Junctions	ZO-1 and Claudin-1	Membrane surrounding tendon; adhesions form following disruption of these junctions after tendon injury	Taylor 201176