Abnormal distribution of cell junction proteins in buccal mucosal cells

Abnormal distribution of cell junction proteins in buccal mucosal cells

An anomalous amount or location of cell junction proteins such as plakoglobin or Cx43.

Buccal mucosal cells are harvested from the oral mucosa in the region of the cheek, and can be used as a surrogate tissue to measure cell junction proteins because it is difficult to obtain cells from a tissue of interest such as the myocardium. Cell junction proteins, such as plakoglobin and the major cardiac gap junction protein Cx43 may have an abnormal distribution in diseases such as arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.