What are the Clinical Implications of Dysfunctional Adherens Junctions?

Disruption in the function of adherens junctions can lead to several pathological conditions, including:

Cancer: Loss of adherens junction integrity is often associated with cancer progression and metastasis. Dysregulated expression of cadherins and catenins can contribute to the invasive behavior of cancer cells.
Cardiovascular Diseases: In the heart, adherens junctions are crucial for the proper function of cardiomyocytes. Abnormalities in these junctions can lead to cardiomyopathies and other cardiovascular disorders.
Inflammatory Diseases: Inflammatory conditions can disrupt adherens junctions, leading to increased tissue permeability and contributing to diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.