Which type of junction would be most compromised in a disease that weakens intermediate filament linkage between epithelial cells, potentially causing blister formation under mechanical stress?
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Correct answer: Hemidesmosomes or desmosomes
Desmosomes (and hemidesmosomes attaching to basal lamina) anchor intermediate filaments between cells or to extracellular matrix; if these attachments weaken, epithelial integrity under stress is lost, leading to blister formation, as seen in some skin diseases.
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