CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Epithelia are three-dimensional arrangements of cells organized into structures which delimitmorphologically and physiologically different compartments. At the cellular level, epithelialcells are characterized by the presence of an apical pole, facing the lumen of an organ or theouter environment, and baso-lateral domains, involved in cell-extracellular matrix and cellcell interactions. Each pole is characterized by its specific protein and lipid membranecomposition, and its distinct assembly of cellular organelles. This polarized organization ofcell components ensures the vectorial absorption and secretion of proteins and othermolecules, which constitute the essential function of epithelia. Actin and microtubulecytoskeletons are also polarized in epithelial cells. This organization contributes to the de novoestablishment as well as to the functional maintenance of epithelial polarity. In this article wedelineate the central features of epithelial polarity and summarize the current knowledge onhow actin and microtubule cytoskeletons contribute to epithelial organization.