Gap Junction Coupled Cells, Barriers and Systemic Inflammation

The blood-brain barrier (BBB), the blood-retinal barrier (BRB), and the blood-nerve barrier (BNB) may have similarities in systemic chronic inflammation, as seen in a variety of diseases. A disturbance of the barriers lead to a disruption of the cells coupled with gap junctions in syncytium. The network coupling may be principal to understand the homeostatic imbalance in systemic inflammation. This review high-lightens the role of gap junction network coupled cells in inducing and maintaining barrier properties under physiological conditions as well as their involvement in inflammatory pathologies. Keywords: Gap junction, Blood-brain barrier, Blood-retinal barrier, Blood-nerve barrier, Inflammatio