Pathobiology 2027

Mechanisms of Disease

May 1-4, 2027

Flamingo Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NW

Session 003 – Epithelial Barriers of Healthy and Disease Tissues: Novel Functions for the Old Players

10:30 AM-12:15 PM
Sponsored by the Mucosal Pathobiology Scientific Interest Group
Session Room: TBD

Session Co-Chairs

Asma Nusrat

Asma Nusrat, MD
University of Michigan

Andrei Ivanov

Andrei Ivanov, PhD
Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Session Overview

Epithelial barriers represent essential features of healthy tissues and disruption of these barriers lead to tissue inflammation and tumorigenesis. Integrity of tissue barrier depends on the assembly of different types of epithelial junctions. Despite being studied for decades, structure and functions of epithelial junctions still hide lot of mysteries and surprises. This session will illustrate several recent findings of novel functions and regulatory mechanisms for epithelial junctions in different tissues. Specific emphasis is placed on the pathophysiologic implications of junctional disruption in human diseases.

Agenda

  • Co-Chair – Welcome and Introductions

  • Antonis Kourtidis10:30-10:55 AM
    Epithelial Adherens Junctions as a Hub of RNA Regulation
    Antonis Kourtidis, PhD
    Medical University of South Carolina

  • Cynthia Sears10:55-11:20 AM
    Bacteroides Fragilis Toxin Snips the Colon Barrier to Promote Human Disease
    Cynthia Sears, MD
    John Hopkins University School of Medicine

  • Christopher Weber11:20-11:45 AM
    Claudin-2 Is Essential to Normal Pancreatic Ductal Fluid Secretion and Limits Development of Pancreatitis
    Christopher Weber, MD, PhD
    University of Chicago

  • 11:45 AM-12:00 PM
    Abstract 1

  • 12:00-12:15 PM
    Abstract 2