Transcellular vesicular transport in epithelial and endothelial cells: Challenges and opportunities

Karen Y.Y. Fung, Gregory D. Fairn, Warren L. Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

128 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Vesicle-mediated transcellular transport or simply “transcytosis” is a cellular process used to shuttle macromolecules such as lipoproteins, antibodies, and albumin from one surface of a polarized cell to the other. This mechanism is in contrast to the transit of small molecules such as anions, cations and amino acids that occur via uptake, diffusion through the cytosol and release and is also distinct from paracellular leak between cells. Importantly, transcytosis has evolved as a process to selectively move macromolecules between 2 neighboring yet unique microenvironments within a multicellular organism. Examples include the movement of lipoproteins out of the circulatory system and into tissues and the delivery of immunoglobulins to mucosal surfaces. Regardless of whether the transport is conducted by endothelial or epithelial cells, the process often involves receptor-mediated uptake of a ligand into an endocytic vesicle, regulated transit of the carrier through the cytoplasm and release of the cargo via an exocytic event. While transcytosis has been examined in detail in epithelial cells, for both historical and technical reasons, the process is less understood in endothelial cells. Here, we spotlight aspects of epithelial transcytosis including recent findings and review the comparative dearth of knowledge regarding the process in endothelial cells highlighting the opportunity for further study.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5-18
Number of pages14
JournalTraffic
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2018
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by Early Researcher Awards from the Government of Ontario (to both G.D.F. and W.L.L.), the Nature Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (grants to W.L.-L. and G.D.F.) and the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (to G.D.F.) and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (W.L.L.). W.L.L. is supported by a Canada Research Chair in Mechanisms of Endothelial Permeability.

Funding Information:
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; Canada Research Chair in Mechanisms of Endothelial Permeability; Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada; Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging; Early Researcher Awards from the Government of Ontario

Funding Information:
This research was supported by Early Researcher Awards from the Government of Ontario (to both G.D.F. and W.L.L.), the Nature Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (grants to W.L.L. and G.D.F.) and the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (to G.D.F.) and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (W.L.L.). W.L.L. is supported by a Canada Research Chair in Mechanisms of Endothelial Permeability. The Editorial Process File is available in the online version of this article.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

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