Role of Tight and Adherens Junctional Complexes in Tumor Suppression

Epithelial cells are connected to each other and the basemen membrane by junctional complexes. These complexes are made up of transmembrane proteins and they play important role in tumor suppression. Dysregulation of the junctional proteins at tight and adherens junctions results in the loss of epithelial integrity and epithelial phenotype. This leads the cells to undergo EMT because of various signaling events, activating the transcription factors that upregulate mesenchymal genes. Cancer cells utilize EMT to gain invasive and migratory properties. In this review we have focused on the various TJ and AJ proteins, their regulation and various signaling events at these junctions that contribute to tumor suppression.