%0 Journal Article
%T Expression and localization of claudins-3 and -12 in transformed human brain endothelium
%A Anja Schrade
%A Hadassah Sade
%A Pierre-Olivier Couraud
%A Ignacio A Romero
%A Babette B Weksler
%A Jens Niewoehner
%J Fluids and Barriers of the CNS
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/2045-8118-9-6
%X hCMEC/D3 cells express claudins-3 and -12. Claudin-3 is distinctly localized to the TJ whereas claudin -12 is observed in the perinuclear region and completely absent from TJs. We show that the expression of both proteins is lost in cell passage numbers where the BBB properties are no longer fully conserved. Expression and localization of claudin-3 is not modulated by simvastatin shown to improve barrier function in vitro and also recommended for routine hCMEC/D3 culture.These results support conservation of claudin-3 and -12 expression in the hCMEC/D3 cell line and make claudin-3 a potential marker for BBB characteristics in vitro.Members of the claudin superfamily are important protein constituents of tight junctions (TJs) in polarized epithelial and endothelial monolayers and play an important role in maintaining the paracellular barrier. At the blood brain barrier (BBB), claudins-1,-3, -5 and -12 have been shown to participate in the formation of TJs between brain microvascular endothelial cells in vivo [1-4]. Of these members, there has been a particular interest in claudin-5, as mice deficient for this protein showed size dependent transport restriction for molecules smaller than 800 Da. Claudin-12 is highly expressed at the TJs in murine development [3]. Claudin-3 expression in primary human, rat and murine brain endothelial TJs is no longer of debate since antibodies that are not cross-reactive to claudin-1 have been generated [5-7]. The loss of claudin-3 from the TJs in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) demonstrates that it may be important for determining permeability in pathological conditions [4].The hCMEC/D3 cell line is the best-characterized in vitro model system of the human blood brain barrier. The cells express endothelial specific and TJ markers including claudins-1 and -5 [8,9]. The aim of the present study was to establish the protein expression and localization pattern of the other brain endothelial specific claudins-3 and -12 in th
%K Blood Brain Barrier (BBB)
%K hCMEC/D3
%K Claudins
%K Tight junction
%K Statins
%U http://www.fluidsbarrierscns.com/content/9/1/6