Epithelial cells are polarized cells and typically display distinct plasma membrane domains: basal plasma membrane domains face the underlying tissue, lateral domains contact adjacent cells and apical domains face the exterior lumen. Each membrane domain is endowed with a specific macromolecular composition that constitutes the functional identity of that domain. Defects in apical-basal plasma membrane polarity altogether or more subtle defects in the composition of either apical or basal plasma membrane domain can give rise to severe diseases. Lipids are the main component of cellular membranes and mechanisms that control their polarized distribution in epithelial cells are emerging. In particular sphingolipids and phosphatidylinositol lipids have taken center stage in the organization of the apical and basolateral plasma membrane domain. This short review article discusses mechanisms that contribute to the polarized distribution of lipids in epithelial cells.

中文翻译：

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脂质在上皮细胞中极化分布的机制。

上皮细胞是极化细胞，通常表现出不同的质膜结构域：基底质膜结构域面对下面的组织，横向结构域接触相邻的细胞，而顶端结构域面对外部管腔。每个膜结构域都具有构成该结构域的功能同一性的特定大分子组成。根尖-基质膜极性的完全缺陷或根尖或基质膜结构域的组成中的更细微的缺陷会引起严重的疾病。脂质是细胞膜的主要成分，控制其在上皮细胞中极化分布的机制正在兴起。特别地，鞘脂和磷脂酰肌醇脂在顶和基底外侧质膜结构域的组织中已成为中心阶段。