The importance of the E-cadherin-catenin complex in the maintenance of intestinal epithelial homoeostasis: more than intercellular glue?

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Abstract
E-cadherin is a member of the large cadherin superfamily and is the predominant intercellular adhesion molecule expressed by intestinal epithelial cells.3 It is a calcium dependent transmembrane protein which forms a key component of adherens junctions. E-cadherin molecules form dimers at the cell surface, which interdigitate with other E-cadherin molecules on adjacent epithelial cells resulting in the formation of cell adhesion “zippers” (fig 1).9 , 10E-cadherin has classically been thought to be exclusively involved in homotypic cell-cell interactions; however, evidence has emerged suggesting a heterophillic interaction with αEβ7 integrin on the surface of lymphocytes. αEβ7 is expressed predominantly on intra-epithelial lymphocytes, but on only a minority of circulating lymphocytes, and this interaction is therefore suggested to be important in mediating the retention of lymphocytes within the epithelium in a tissue specific fashion.11