Alkylphospholipids reversibly open epithelial tight junctions.

Alkylphospholipids, such as the antitumor ether lipid 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methylglycero-3-phosphocholine, modulate cancer cell invasion through changes in the adherens junction E-cadherin complex, a major organizer of epithelia. We wanted to know whether alkylphospholipids would also change tight junctions, molecular complexes that seal cell-to-cell contacts in polarised epithelia. Therefore, human colorectal cancer cell layers T84 were established in two-compartment culture chambers and the functional integrity of tight junctions was evaluated through their transepithelial electrical resistance.