Tight junction transmembrane protein claudin subtype expression and distribution in human corneal and conjunctival epithelium.
OBJECTIVE
The combination of the tight junction transmembrane protein claudin subtypes is one of the most important determinants of variations in the tightness of individual paired tight junction strands. The barrier function of corneal epithelium is much stronger than that of conjunctival epithelium. In this study, the expression and cellular distribution of claudin species in in vivo human corneal and conjunctival epithelium were investigated.


METHODS
Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to reveal the claudin mRNA. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the tissue distribution of tight junction-related proteins and MUC5AC.


RESULTS
Transcripts for claudin-1, -2, -3, -4, -7, -9, and -14 were identified in human corneal epithelium. Transcripts for claudin-1, -2, -4, -7, -9, -10, and -14 were identified in human conjunctival epithelium. By immunohistochemistry, claudin-1, -4, and -7 were found to be localized at the membrane of human corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells. In human conjunctival epithelium, claudin-10 staining was observed at several, but not all, apical epithelial cell-to-goblet cell junctions.


CONCLUSIONS
Claudin-1, -4, and -7 are expressed in corneal and conjunctival epithelia. Claudin-10 is prominent at several junctions between apical epithelial cells and goblet cells in conjunctival epithelium. Except for claudin-10 expression in conjunctival epithelium, the claudin subtype expressions of corneal and conjunctival epithelia are similar. Therefore, there must be a difference between these two epithelial types with regard to the specific ratio of claudin subtypes expressed or their phosphorylation status. The distribution of goblet cells in conjunctival epithelium also influences the difference in barrier function.
Yoshida
Yusuke
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, Nantan General Hospital, Nantan, Japan.
Ban
Yuriko
Y
Kinoshita
Shigeru
S
D062445:Claudin-1; D062506:Claudin-4; D057167:Claudins; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055271:Mucin 5AC / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D062793:Occludin; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
C568108:CLDN1 protein, human; C568157:CLDN4 protein, human; D062445:Claudin-1; D062506:Claudin-4; D057167:Claudins; C568113:Cldn1 protein, mouse; C568158:Cldn4 protein, mouse; C507360:Cldn7 protein, mouse; C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D055271:Mucin 5AC; C568985:OCLN protein, human; D062793:Occludin; C568986:Ocln protein, mouse; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C569042:TJP1 protein, human; C569043:Tjp1 protein, mouse; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein; C502009:claudin 10