Tight junction proteins: a novel class of integral membrane proteins. Expression in human epidermis and in HaCaT keratinocytes.

Tight junction proteins comprise a novel group of integral membrane proteins necessary for cell-to-cell contacts and responsible for the barrier function in epithelial and endothelial cells in various tissues. The tight junction membrane domain contains at least three distinct proteins, named occludin, claudin and junctional adhesion molecule. Claudins are products of a gene family consisting of more than 20 members. We investigated mRNA expression of occludin and 13 different claudins in neonatal foreskin, adult skin and cultivated HaCaT keratinocytes by the Northern blot technique, and performed immunohistochemical staining of adult skin for occludin, claudin 1 and claudin 2. Occludin, claudin 1 and claudin 3 mRNAs were expressed in human neonatal and adult keratinocytes as well as in HaCaT keratinocytes. All other tested claudins were negative. Immunohistochemical staining of adult skin was positive for occludin in the intercellular space of the granular layer, and for claudin 1 in the inter-cellular space of the spinosum layer and basal layer, but negative for claudin 2 in all skin layers. Claudin 1 was also positive in the outer root sheath of hair follicles. Our results indicate that occludin, claudin 1 and claudin 3 are involved in cell-to-cell contacts between keratinocytes in human epidermis, although their functional importance remains unknown.