Biomaterial Database

Occluding junctions in an epithelioid mesothelioma: a freeze-fracture study. 1984

Z Posalaky, and D McGinley

The presence of a well-developed tight junction system in a case of diffuse, papillary, malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum is documented using the freeze-fracture methodology. The mean number of strands within the tight junction network was determined to be 3.83 +/- 0.16. In addition, the tight junctions were specifically located in regions of the plasma membrane adjacent to recognizable microvilli. Gap junctions and desmosomes were found in close association with the occluding complexes; however, they were also seen in areas of the plasma membrane quite distinct from those that exhibit tight junction differentiation. The possible significance of the presence of tight junctions in neoplastic epithelial cells is also discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007365	Intercellular Junctions	Direct contact of a cell with a neighboring cell. Most such junctions are too small to be resolved by light microscopy, but they can be visualized by conventional or freeze-fracture electron microscopy, both of which show that the interacting CELL MEMBRANE and often the underlying CYTOPLASM and the intervening EXTRACELLULAR SPACE are highly specialized in these regions. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p792)	Cell Junctions,Cell Junction,Intercellular Junction,Junction, Cell,Junction, Intercellular,Junctions, Cell,Junctions, Intercellular
D008297	Male		Males
D008654	Mesothelioma	A tumor derived from mesothelial tissue (peritoneum, pleura, pericardium). It appears as broad sheets of cells, with some regions containing spindle-shaped, sarcoma-like cells and other regions showing adenomatous patterns. Pleural mesotheliomas have been linked to exposure to asbestos. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Mesotheliomas
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010534	Peritoneal Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the PERITONEUM.	Peritoneal Carcinomatosis,Peritoneal Surface Malignancy,Carcinomatosis, Peritoneal,Malignancy, Peritoneal Surface,Neoplasm, Peritoneal,Peritoneal Carcinomatoses,Peritoneal Neoplasm,Peritoneal Surface Malignancies,Surface Malignancy, Peritoneal
D010537	Peritoneum	A membrane of squamous EPITHELIAL CELLS, the mesothelial cells, covered by apical MICROVILLI that allow rapid absorption of fluid and particles in the PERITONEAL CAVITY. The peritoneum is divided into parietal and visceral components. The parietal peritoneum covers the inside of the ABDOMINAL WALL. The visceral peritoneum covers the intraperitoneal organs. The double-layered peritoneum forms the MESENTERY that suspends these organs from the abdominal wall.	Parietal Peritoneum,Peritoneum, Parietal,Peritoneum, Visceral,Visceral Peritoneum,Parametrium,Parametriums
D005614	Freeze Fracturing	Preparation for electron microscopy of minute replicas of exposed surfaces of the cell which have been ruptured in the frozen state. The specimen is frozen, then cleaved under high vacuum at the same temperature. The exposed surface is shadowed with carbon and platinum and coated with carbon to obtain a carbon replica.	Fracturing, Freeze,Fracturings, Freeze,Freeze Fracturings
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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