Progress in expression and function of tricellular tight junction protein tricellulin

Tricellulin is a novel tight junction protein that is specially expressed in tricellular contacts. Tricellulin is expressed in multiple epithelial and endothelial cells and plays an important role in regulating the paracellular transport of substances and maintaining the integrity of tight junction complexes. The abnormal expression and dysfunction of tricellulin are closely related to the occurrence and development of deafness, inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial infection diseases, tumors and damage to the blood-brain barrier and the blood-retinal barrier. In this review, the research progress on the molecular structure, expression and distribution of tricellulin, the relationship between tricellulin function and diseases as well as the relevant regulatory mechanisms are presented.