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

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 of TJs in claudin quinKO cells is advantageous for further investigation of claudin functions.

Automated summary

The claudin family of membrane proteins is responsible for the structure and function of tight junctions. Each claudin subtype has a unique function, and the combination of expressed subtypes determines the permeability of epithelia. Researchers attempted to reconstitute tight junctions containing only the claudin subtype(s) of interest in MDCK cells. The results showed that the reconstituted tight junctions did not contain claudin-12 and claudin-16, and overexpression of these two subtypes did not result in the reconstitution of tight junctions.