Reconstitution of functional tight junctions with individual claudin subtypes in epithelial cells

Cell Structure and Function

article

Mikio Furuse¹  Daiki Nakatsu⁴  Wendy Hempstock⁵  Shiori Sugioka⁶  Noriko Ishizuka⁶  Kyoko Furuse¹  Taichi Sugawara⁷  Yugo Fukazawa⁸  Hisayoshi Hayashi⁶ 

[1] Division of Cell Structure, National Institute for Physiological Sciences;Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies;Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine;Cell Biology Center, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology;Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Shizuoka;Laboratory of Physiology, Graduate School of Nutritional and Environmental Sciences, University of Shizuoka;Department of Histology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University;Division of Brain Structure and Function, Life Science Innovation Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui

关键词: tight junction;    claudin;    paracellular permeability;    epithelial barrier;   

DOI  :  10.1247/csf.22068

学科分类：分子生物学，细胞生物学和基因

来源: Japan Society for Cell Biology

【 摘 要 】

The claudin family of membrane proteins is responsible for the backbone structure and function of tight junctions (TJs), which regulate the paracellular permeability of epithelia. It is thought that each claudin subtype has its own unique function and the combination of expressed subtypes determines the permeability property of each epithelium. However, many issues remain unsolved in regard to claudin functions, including the detailed functional differences between claudin subtypes and the effect of the combinations of specific claudin subtypes on the structure and function of TJs. To address these issues, it would be useful to have a way of reconstituting TJs containing only the claudin subtype(s) of interest in epithelial cells. In this study, we attempted to reconstitute TJs of individual claudin subtypes in TJ-deficient MDCK cells, designated as claudin quinKO cells, which were previously established from MDCK II cells by deleting the genes of claudin-1, -2, -3, -4, and -7. Exogenous expression of each of claudin-1, -2, -3, -4, and -7 in claudin quinKO cells resulted in the reconstitution of functional TJs. These TJs did not contain claudin-12 and -16, which are endogenously expressed in claudin quinKO cells. Furthermore, overexpression of neither claudin-12 nor claudin-16 resulted in the reconstitution of TJs, demonstrating the existence of claudin subtypes lacking TJ-forming activity in epithelial cells. Exogenous expression of the channel-forming claudin-2, -10a, -10b, and -15 reconstituted TJs with reported paracellular channel properties, demonstrating that these claudin subtypes form paracellular channels by themselves without interaction with other subtypes. Thus, the reconstitution of TJs in claudin quinKO cells is advantageous for further investigation of claudin functions.

【 授权许可】

Unknown