Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42474443›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of cell biology2026

PAK4 promotes vertex remodeling to maintain epithelial integrity and barrier function.

Babli Adhikary, Alexander Chang, Atsuko Y Higashi, Hideki Chiba, Ann L Miller, Tomohito Higashi

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of cell biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Babli AdhikaryDepartment of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.ORCID 0009-0007-0573-1426
Alexander ChangDepartment of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.ORCID 0009-0002-9483-6222
Atsuko Y HigashiDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.ORCID 0009-0005-3300-0597
Hideki ChibaDepartment of Basic Pathology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-1777-8460
Ann L MillerDepartment of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7293-764X
Tomohito HigashiDepartment of Basic Pathology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.ORCID 0000-0001-5616-1477

Funding

UG Diversity Supplement: Epithelial cell-cell junction remodeling in response to cell- and tissue-scale forcesR35GM153204 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Ann Louise Miller · 2024 to 2026
$1.0M
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 24K09456Naito FoundationNarishige FundNIH HHS R35GM153204
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cell-cell junctions are essential for epithelial integrity and barrier function, but the mechanisms regulating their remodeling remain unclear. Here, we investigated the role of the junctional kinase PAK4 in vertex remodeling. PAK4 accumulated at multicellular vertices in MDCK cells and Xenopus embryos. Inhibition or knockout (KO) of PAK4 increased the number of higher-order vertices, caused junctional discontinuities, and impaired barrier function in MDCK cells. PAK4 recruitment required the scaffolding protein Afadin. Severe junctional defects and reduced barrier function in Afdn-KO cells were partially rescued by artificial PAK4 targeting. In Xenopus embryos, PAK4 showed dynamic accumulation at remodeling vertices, and PAK4 inhibition hindered vertex remodeling. Expression of an amino-terminal fragment (PAK4-NT) impaired remodeling, induced cytokinetic failure, and caused barrier leakage at multicellular vertices. In both systems, PAK4-deficient cells exhibited abnormal accumulation of junctional myosin II, likely due to reduced myosin phosphatase activity. These findings indicate that PAK4 and Afadin cooperate to maintain epithelial integrity and barrier function by promoting vertex remodeling.

Indexed as

Epithelial CellsIntercellular Junctionsp21-Activated KinasesAnimalsDogsEmbryo, NonmammalianMadin Darby Canine Kidney CellsMicrofilament ProteinsMyosin Type IIXenopus laevisafadinMicrofilament ProteinsMyosin Type IIp21-Activated Kinases

Identifiers

PMID42474443

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.