Diabetes-related alteration of occludin expression in rat blood-spinal cord barrier.
Occludin is an essential component of tight junctions, which are involved in controlling the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB). Diabetes-induced alteration of occludin in rat BSCB and the relationship between occludin level and disease course was examined. Diabetes was induced using streptozotocin. Occludin rat spinal cord mRNA levels were assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Protein levels were examined by western blot. Occludin expression in 1-month diabetic rats was significantly reduced compared to the controls (0.20 ± 0.01 vs 1.00 ± 0.01, respectively; P < 0.05). Expression was also significantly lower in the 3-month diabetic group (0.06 ± 0.02; P < 0.01). Occludin protein levels of 1-month (0.53 ± 0.01) and 3-month (0.31 ± 0.01) diabetic rats were also significantly reduced compared to controls (0.91 ± 0.06; P < 0.01 for both). Diabetes decreased BSCB occludin expression at the mRNA and protein level. This down-regulation appears to correlate with the course of the disease, and may be a causal factor of diabetes-induced increase of BSCB permeability.
Zhao
Yuwu
Y
Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. zhaoyuwu2005@126.com
Liu
Xueyuan
X
Yu
Aiyong
A
Zhou
Yajun
Y
Liu
Bangjian
B
D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D062793:Occludin; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000633:toxicity; D013997:Time Factors
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D062793:Occludin; C568987:Ocln protein, rat; D013311:Streptozocin