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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Functional Assessment of Intestinal Tight Junction Barrier and Ion Permeability in Native Tissue by Ussing Chamber Technique
Published on: May 26, 2021
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: decreased claudin-5 and relocated ZO-1
T Kanda1, Y Numata, H Mizusawa
1Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan. t-kanda.nuro@tmd.ac.jp
Objectives:
To clarify the dynamics of molecules composing the blood-nerve barrier (BNB) in inflammatory neuropathies.
Methods:
The expression of four tight junction (TJ) proteins-claudin-1, claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1-was analysed immunohistochemically in sural nerve biopsy specimens obtained from patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).
Results:
Claudin-1 was detected only in perineurial cells, whereas claudin-5 was present in endothelial cells, irrespective of vessel location or size. Occludin and ZO-1 were found in perineurial cells, in addition to some epineurial and endoneurial endothelial cells. In CIDP, percentages of endoneurial small vessels immunoreactive for claudin-5 were significantly decreased, as were ZO-1 immunoreactive endoneurial small vessels, with staining localised to interfaces between cells. Claudin-1 and occludin immunoreactivity did not differ appreciably between the neuropathies examined.
Conclusions:
The downregulation of claudin-5 and altered localisation of ZO-1 seen in CIDP specimens may indicate that BNB derangement occurs in inflammatory neuropathies. Further investigation of TJ molecules may suggest new treatments based on properties of the BNB.
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