Intercellular Clefts
Intercellular Clefts - Related Videos
01:26
Intercellular Communication in a Contact-Free Co-Culture of Neurons and Oligodendrocytes
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2025
Begin with a contact-free co-culture of neurons and oligodendrocytes.A permeable membrane separates the neurons in the transwell insert from the oligodendrocytes at the bottom well.Add potassium to the insert to raise extracellular potassium levels, which inhibits the efflux of intracellular potassium.The potassium accumulation depolarizes the neurons, triggering the opening of voltage-gated calcium channels and allowing calcium influx.The influx stimulates the release of excitatory...
10:50
Nanopodia - Thin, Fragile Membrane Projections with Roles in Cell Movement and Intercellular Interactions
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Cited by 15 •
2014
Nanopodia are thin but fragile membrane channels that extend up to 100 μm from a cell's leading front or trailing rear and sense the cellular environment. Direct fixation at 37 °C, gentle washing, and avoidance of organic solvents like ethanol, methanol, or acetone and of higher Triton X-100 concentrations are required to observe these cellular structures.
09:52
A Mimic of the Tumor Microenvironment: A Simple Method for Generating Enriched Cell Populations and Investigating Intercellular Communication
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Cited by 8 •
2016
We adapted a permeable microporous membrane insert to mimic the tumor microenvironment (TME). The model consists of a mixed cell culture, allows simplified generation of highly enriched individual cell populations without using fluorescent tagging or cell sorting, and permits studying intercellular communication within the TME under normal or stress conditions.
09:47
An Iodide-Yellow Fluorescent Protein-Gap Junction-Intercellular Communication Assay
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Cited by 3 •
2019
Here, we present a protocol for a novel gap junction intercellular communication assay designed for the high-throughput screening of gap junction-modulating chemicals for drug discovery and toxicological assessment.
08:58
Silicon Nanowires and Optical Stimulation for Investigations of Intra- and Intercellular Electrical Coupling
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Cited by 3 •
2021
This protocol describes the use of silicon nanowires for intracellular optical bio-modulation of cell in a simple and easy to perform method. The technique is highly adaptable to diverse cell types and can be used for in vitro as well as in vivo applications.
FAQs
Tight junctions and adherens junctions regulate the paracellular route at cell borders. Their state determines how effectively the cleft limits movement between neighboring cells while allowing controlled passage of fluids, ions, and small molecules. Examining both junction types helps distinguish regulated barrier behavior from changes caused by broader tissue disorganization.
Actomyosin contraction changes the physical width of the space between neighboring cells. When the cleft narrows, paracellular exchange becomes more restricted; when it widens, the barrier may become more permissive to fluids, ions, and small molecules. This mechanism links cellular force generation to tissue-level permeability and helps explain dynamic barrier changes.
Changes in junctional proteins can shift cleft permeability without requiring a change in the identity of the participating cells. Because these proteins help regulate the paracellular pathway, their alteration can modify how tightly adjacent cells are sealed. Researchers therefore treat junctional composition as a key variable when interpreting tissue barrier function.
In epithelial and endothelial tissues, cleft analysis connects cell-border structure with transport behavior. Researchers can ask whether altered junctional regulation corresponds to increased or decreased movement of fluids, ions, or small molecules through the paracellular route. This relationship helps explain how tissues organize exchange while maintaining a controlled barrier.
Inflammation and vascular leakage can be examined as consequences of impaired barrier regulation at cell boundaries. If junctional control or actomyosin balance changes, cleft dimensions and permeability may change as well. Studying these links helps researchers connect microscopic alterations in epithelial or endothelial barriers with tissue-level loss of containment.
A focused investigation should relate three features: cleft width, junctional condition, and permeability. Comparing these features can show whether altered exchange accompanies changes in tight or adherens junctions, junctional proteins, or actomyosin contraction. The resulting interpretation is relevant to tissue homeostasis because it links structural organization with barrier performance and disease-associated dysfunction.