This study was aimed to investigate the expressions of E-cadherin, p120ctn, beta-catenin and NF-kappa B in ulcerative colitis (UC) tissues and the implications of their expressions in the pathogenesis of UC. The expressions of E-cadherin, p120ctn, beta-catenin and NF-kappa B were detected by immunohistochemistry, and those of p120ctn and NF-kappa B by Western blotting in 23 cases of UC and 17 cases of normal colonic tissues. The relationship between the expression of E-cadherin or NF-kappa B and that of p120ctn was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analysis. The results showed that in UC and normal colonic groups, the abnormal expression rate of E-cadherin, p120ctn, beta-catenin, and NF-kappa B was 52.2% vs. 0 (P < 0.05), 73.9% vs. 23.5% (P < 0.05), 65.2% vs. 17.6% (P < 0.05) and 78.4% vs. 23.5% (P < 0.05), respectively. p120ctn expression was positively correlated with E-cadherin expression (r=0.404, P < 0.05), but negatively with nuclear NF-kappa B expression (r= - 0.347, P < 0.05). Western blotting showed that as compared with the normal controls, the p120ctn protein level was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), whereas the NF-kappa B protein level was increased (P < 0.05) in UC tissues. It was concluded that in the colonic tissues of UC patients, the expressions of E-cadherin, p120ctn and beta-catenin are decreased, suggesting the mucosal barrier is impaired in UC. Moreover, NF-kappa B is increased and activated in the UC tissues, resulting in the inflammation in UC. p120ctn may influence the UC development through modulating intercellular adhesion and inflammatory response.