Block 2 - Epithelium 1-3 Flashcards
A layer of epithelial cells often forms…
a barrier between two compartments
There are two main ways to get across a cell barrier. What are they, and describe them.
paracellular route: between cells, depends on the properties of cell-cell junctions
transcellular route: through cells, materials need to cross the membrane, depends on properties of transporters/channels/lipid solubility
What properties of an epithelia can be changed?
solute selectivity, rates of transport, barrier resistance
Tight junctions are —– —— ——- that enable…
complex protein structures
enable the paracellular route to be selective
What component of a tight junction impacts its selectivity? How?
claudins
negative amino acids repel anions (selective for cations)
positive amino acids repel cations (selective for anions)
What ion is necessary for tight junctions to form?
Ca++
Epithelia are tight or leaky based on…
their ability to prevent water and solute movement
Where are examples tight and leaky epithelia located in the body?
tight - distal convoluted tubule, collecting duct of the nephron, bile duct, blood brain barrier
leaky - renal proximal tubule, jejunum, gallbladder
Trans epithelial ion transport results in electrical properties like…
trans epithelial electrical voltage
trans epithelial electric current
What is the trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER)?
indicator of the tightness of the epithelium (leaky have a TEER less than 1,000 omega-cm)
It is important that epithelia allow the movement of…
water
The lipid bilayer reduces the free diffusive flux of H2O by about —- fold
10,000 fold
Water crosses the cell membrane (faster/slower) than the lipid bilayer
faster (10-100 times faster)
Researchers revealed that —— ——- enable movement of water through the membrane.
specialized proteins (called water pores, or aquaporins)
Describe the process of discovering aquaporins
- isolated from RBCs, molecular weight was 28 kDa, and it was extremely abundant (200,000 copies per RBC)
- when the protein was expressed in an toad oocyte it increased rate of swelling when the cell was placed in a hypo osmotic solution
Cell polarity refers to…
the intrinsic asymmetry of a cell’s shape, structure, or subcellular organization
Epithelial cells typically have – regions:
2 regions, the apical and basolateral which are structurally and functionally different
Describe the basolateral surface
includes the plasma membrane which is in contact with the basal lamina, and the lateral membrane between neighboring cells (the boundary is the tight junction)
Describe the apical surface
on the other side of the tight junction, the surface of the epithelium, the side that faces the lumen in tubes like the intestine
Which surface has mechanisms of transcellular pathways for solute movement?
both - apical and basolateral
Describe glucose absorption mechanisms at the apical surface
- Na Glucose cotransporters (SGLTs) move glucose across the apical membrane and into the cell
- uphill against its concentration gradient by using the Na+ concentration gradient across the plasma membrane
Describe glucose absorption mechanisms at the basolateral surface
- Na+ gradient is established by Na,K ATPase located on the basolateral membrane
- glucose exits the cell by facilitated diffusion across the basolateral surface using GLUT
- this process of entering the ECF is a passive process, since glucose is flowing down its concentration gradient
What is the rate-limiting step of intestinal secretion?
movement of Cl- ions across the apical plasma membrane
Describe the mechanism of chloride secretion
Cl- is transported into the epithelial cell by the Na/K/2Cl cotransporter on the basolateral membrane
the cotransporter uses the Na+ gradient and transports 1 K+ and 2 Cl- ions along with each Na+ ion and raises the concentration of intracellular Cl-
Cl- ions exit through CFTR Cl- channels in the apical surface, moving down their concentration gradient
How is Cl- secretion regulated?
opening and closing of the CFTR Cl- channel is regulated by phosphorylation
cell signaling by cAMP and other pathways controls CFTR function
What can harmfully affect the regulation of Cl- secretion?
cholera (a bacterial toxin) blocks signaling from turning off, so intestinal secretion is unregulated causing osmotic water movement across the epithelium and leading to watery diarrhea