Tissue Glue Aids in Swallowing Dead Cells
Researchers have discovered that the E-cadherin protein complex, which normally binds epithelial cells together, also helps these cells engulf and clear dead cells. This mechanism helps maintain tissue integrity while preventing inflammation caused by cellular debris.
Why it matters
Understanding this cellular process could provide new insights into treating chronic inflammatory diseases.
A protein which sticks cells and tissues together has been found to have a surprising second job: helping cells which are packed into a continuous sealed layer, also known as epithelial cells, engulf nearby dead cells.
The debris of dying cells is one of the main causes of inflammation, so the finding by researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona could lead to new clues for understanding chronic inflammatory conditions.
The study, published today in Nature Communications, centres around the E-cadherin complex, which consists of E-cadherin and three other proteins. They work together to link the cells which line our skin, guts and airways, providing structural support that stops tissues from falling apart. Every cell in these epithelial tissues clasp the E-cadherin on the surface of the cell directly next to it.
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