Figure 4 | Mucosal Immunology

Figure 4

From: TGF-β1 alters esophageal epithelial barrier function by attenuation of claudin-7 in eosinophilic esophagitis

Figure 4

Claudin-7 (CLDN7) knockdown (KD) results in diminished esophageal epithelial barrier function. Knockdown of CLDN7 diminished barrier function as measured by (a) transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and increased permeability as measured by (b) 3 kDa Fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran paracellular flux (FITC Flux; N=11, *P≤0.05, **P≤0.01). (c) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections from CLDN7 KD cells grown in three-dimensional air–liquid interface (3D-ALI) culture. Arrows indicate prominent cellular separation. Black scale bar=50 μm. These data suggest that in the setting of attenuated CLDN7, epithelial barrier defects exist. (d) CLDN7-overexpressing cells (pLKO.1-Puro claudin-7 ORF) were generated and functional assessments were done in the presence and absence of TGF-β1 (10 ng ml−1) in the 3D-ALI model. There was no significant decrease in TEER and (e) no significant increase in paracellular flux following TGF-β1 exposure (N=5, n.s.). (f) H&E-stained sections from CLDN7-overexpressing cells grown in 3D-ALI culture in the absence (top panel) and presence of TGF-β1 (bottom panel). Black scale bar=50 μm.

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