Tight Junctions

Tight Junctions, also known as occluding junctions, are cell-cell adhesion structures that form a continuous, seal-like barrier between two adjacent cells in order to create a barrier between them. They are especially important for maintaining proper physical and chemical properties between cells and for allowing selective transport of molecules between them. Tight Junctions are essential for proper organ and tissue development, as well as for maintaining tissue integrity in order to prevent disease, like cancer or infections. Tight Junctions also play an important role in controlling the fluid movement across epithelial and endothelial cell layers.