Junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) family: Recent findings and their role and regulation in spermatogenesis

Abstract

Cell junctions formed at the blood-testis barrier and between Sertoli germ cell interface undergo dynamic restructuring. Such restructuring can be achieved by the timely and spatial changes of structural proteins such as occludin, claudin, and junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs), peripheral proteins such as zonula occludens and catenin. This chapter discusses the role of classical JAMs and coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) in the testis as well as their regulatory mechanisms. It highlights some findings of classical JAMs and CAR in other tissue models. The chapter suggests that this information can serve as the blueprint for planning new studies to delineate the unknown functions in the testis and the regulation of JAMs and CAR during spermatogenesis. Apart from homophilic interaction, classical JAMs can form trans-heterophilic interaction with the JAM family. Classical JAMs and CAR are present in many tissues including brain, heart, lung, skin, and testis.