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Epithelial transport and barrier function in occludin-deficient mice.
J D Schulzke1, A H Gitter, J Mankertz
1Department of Gastroenterology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitary Medicine Berlin, Germany. joerg.schulzke@charite.de
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|April 22, 2005
Summary
Occludin deficiency did not impair epithelial barrier function in mice. However, it caused significant gastric changes, indicating occludin
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Physiology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Occludin is a key protein in tight junctions, crucial for epithelial barrier integrity.
- Understanding occludin's precise role requires functional characterization in vivo.
Purpose of the Study:
- To functionally characterize the tight junction protein occludin.
- To investigate the role of occludin in epithelial barrier function using a mouse model.
- To explore occludin's involvement in gastric epithelial differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized occludin-deficient mouse models.
- Assessed epithelial transport and barrier functions via Ussing chambers.
- Employed impedance analysis for ionic permeability (Re) and conductance scanning (Gc, Gtj).
- Quantified gastric acid secretion using the pH-stat technique.
Main Results:
- Occludin deficiency did not alter epithelial resistance (Re) or mannitol flux in the jejunum, colon, or stomach.
- Barrier function in the urinary bladder and stomach remained unaffected in occludin-deficient mice.
- Gastric mucosa in occludin-deficient mice showed loss of parietal cells and mucus cell hyperplasia, abolishing acid secretion.
Conclusions:
- Occludin is not essential for epithelial barrier function, suggesting functional redundancy of tight junction molecules.
- Occludin plays a critical role in gastric epithelial differentiation and secretory function.