Abstract
This short insight covers some of the recent topics relevant to the field of cadherin–catenin adhesion in mediating connections between different cell types, so-called heterotypic or heterocellular connections, in both homeostasis and cancer. These scientific discoveries are increasing our understanding of how multiple cells residing in complex tissues can be instructed by cadherin adhesion receptors to regulate tissue architecture and function and how these cadherin-mediated heterocellular connections spur tumor growth and the acquisition of malignant characteristics in tumor cells. Overall, the findings that have emerged over the past few years are elucidating the complexity of the functional roles of the cadherin–catenin complexes. Future exciting research lies ahead in order to understand the physical basis of these heterotypic interactions and their influence on the behavior of heterogeneous cellular populations as well as their roles in mediating phenotypic and genetic changes as cells evolve through complex environments during morphogenesis and cancer.
Highlights
Cadherin–catenin-mediated adhesion at adherens junctions (AJs) is fundamental for the establishment of the physical association between cells in multicellular organisms, coordinating the arranged and polarized development, architecture, and function of tissues[1,2,3]
The last several years of scientific discovery have been instrumental in understanding the dynamic structure and regulation of the stability of the cadherin–catenin complexes at the membrane as well as the connection of these complexes with the cytoskeleton
These findings unveiled roles for cadherin complexes beyond their structural function such as directing cell polarity or behaving as sensors of mechanical inputs and signaling cues. Each of these cadherin–catenin functions features prominently in the regulation of several aspects of cell behavior, including cell proliferation, cell fate, and cell migration during development and homeostasis, and their importance is confirmed when these functions go awry in disease
Summary
Cadherin–catenin-mediated adhesion at adherens junctions (AJs) is fundamental for the establishment of the physical association between cells in multicellular organisms, coordinating the arranged and polarized development, architecture, and function of tissues[1,2,3]. Cadherin binding: connecting different cell types The development and function of organs involve a highly dynamic and complex coordination of multiple cell types within tissues to maintain their architecture and fulfill their specialized tasks, enabling them to adapt to environmental changes These interactions start from the formation of the germ layers: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm[32]. Compounding the underlying complexities associated with tumorigenesis, the functional consequences of the establishment of heterotypic cadherin interactions between cancer cells and fibroblasts in promoting collective invasion are opening up a new way in which tumors exploit the tumor-promoting microenvironment to acquire malignant characteristics, in particular in metastatic tumors that do not undergo EMT events and still maintain the expression of E-cadherin at the membrane[45,46]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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