Cell-Cell Junctions in Adhesion, Signaling and Beyond—2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

The editors are grateful to the many researchers who contributed to the success of the first volume of this issue (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/CCJ). We are very pleased to announce the second volume of our Special Issue “Cell–cell Junctions in Adhesion, Signaling and Beyond—2nd Edition".

Cell–cell junctions are dynamic adhesion complexes located on the plasma membrane between neighbouring cells that are essential in tissue morphogenesis, organ formation and collective cell migration in early embryonic development and tissue regeneration in adulthood. In principle, there are three distinct functional groups of cell junctions, i.e., tight junctions, gap junctions and anchoring junctions. Tight junctions are the key for the barrier function of the epithelial and endothelial cells, especially for the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in the endothelial cells of cerebral microvessels that provides a dynamic interface between the peripheral circulation and the central nervous system and restricts blood-borne substances from entering the brain. Tight junctions in stratified squamous epithelia are crucial for protection against all sorts of insults, microbial infection and water loss. In contrast, gap junctions allow cell communication that is vital in controlling homeostasis and responses to external stimuli in organisms. They are made by proteins that form many small channels on closely apposed plasma membranes to permit the transfer of ions and small molecules between cells. Anchoring junctions include adherens junctions and desmosomes that anchor the cytoskeletal filaments to the cell surface and confer strong cell–cell adhesion. Together with the cytoskeletal network, anchoring junctions provide the scaffolding necessary for the mechanical properties of cells, especially in complex tissues such as skin, mucous membranes and heart tissues that are subject to extensive stress daily. Collectively, these intercellular junctions crosstalk through protein–protein interactions and are coordinated in the regulation of diverse cellular processes. It has been increasingly appreciated that cell junctions are not merely protein complexes that mechanically join cells to each other, but rather function as the signalling hubs for cells, responding to both the external and internal stimuli and transmitting signals to the inside of cells that influence gene expression and cell activity to maintain tissue integrity and homeostasis. Recent studies have uncovered the previously unrecognised functions of adhesion molecules that act as stress sensors for signal transmission and transduction in controlling the higher-ordered network vital for cell fate decisions beyond cell cohesion. Given that cell–cell junctions have such a fundamentally important role in tissue generation and maintenance, it is not surprising that alterations and dysregulation of cell junctions contribute to a broad spectrum of inherited, infectious and auto-immune diseases, as well as cancers, that affect multiple organs of the body. For this Special Issue, we invite scientists actively working in the field to contribute original studies, reviews, and perspectives under the theme of cell–cell junctions in health and disease. We hope this issue will stimulate communication and advance our current knowledge in this fascinating and fast-growing field.

Dr. Hong Wan
Guest Editor

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• cell–cell adhesion
• tight junction
• adherens junction
• desmosome
• gap junction
• blood–brain barrier
• cadherin signalling
• inherited disease
• auto-immune disease
• cancer
• infectious disease