scholarly journals Clostridium difficile Toxins Disrupt Epithelial Barrier Function by Altering Membrane Microdomain Localization of Tight Junction Proteins

2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 1329-1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Nusrat ◽  
C. von Eichel-Streiber ◽  
J. R. Turner ◽  
P. Verkade ◽  
J. L. Madara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Tight Junction ◽  
Pseudomembranous Colitis ◽  
Paracellular Permeability ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
Membrane Microdomains ◽  
Epithelial Cell Line ◽  
Rho Proteins ◽  
Membrane Microdomain ◽  
Junction Protein

ABSTRACT The anaerobic bacterium Clostridium difficile is the etiologic agent of pseudomembranous colitis. C. difficiletoxins TcdA and TcdB are UDP-glucosyltransferases that monoglucosylate and thereby inactivate the Rho family of GTPases (W. P. Ciesla, Jr., and D. A. Bobak, J. Biol. Chem. 273:16021–16026, 1998). We utilized purified reference toxins of C. difficile, TcdA-10463 (TcdA) and TcdB-10463 (TcdB), and a model intestinal epithelial cell line to characterize their influence on tight-junction (TJ) organization and hence to analyze the mechanisms by which they contribute to the enhanced paracellular permeability and disease pathophysiology of pseudomembranous colitis. The increase in paracellular permeability induced by TcdA and TcdB was associated with disorganization of apical and basal F-actin. F-actin restructuring was paralleled by dissociation of occludin, ZO-1, and ZO-2 from the lateral TJ membrane without influencing the subjacent adherens junction protein, E-cadherin. In addition, we observed decreased association of actin with the TJ cytoplasmic plaque protein ZO-1. Differential detergent extraction and fractionation in sucrose density gradients revealed TcdB-induced redistribution of occludin and ZO-1 from detergent-insoluble fractions constituting “raft-like” membrane microdomains, suggesting an important role of Rho proteins in maintaining the association of TJ proteins with such microdomains. These toxin-mediated effects on actin and TJ structure provide a mechanism for early events in the pathophysiology of pseudomembranous colitis.

scholarly journals Correlation of occludin protein mobility with paracellular leak pathway permeability in renal epithelia

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Axis ◽  
Alexander L. Kolb ◽  
Robert L. Bacallao ◽  
Kurt Amsler
Keyword(s):  
Tight Junction ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion Injury ◽  
Mdck Cells ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Paracellular Permeability ◽  
Tight Junction Protein ◽  
Protein Mobility ◽  
Junction Protein ◽  
Leak Pathway

ABSTRACTStudies have demonstrated regulation of the epithelial paracellular permeability barrier, the tight junction, by a variety of stimuli. Recent studies have reported a correlation between changes in paracellular permeability, particularly paracellular permeability to large solutes (leak pathway), and mobility of the tight junction protein, occludin, in the plane of the plasma membrane. This had led to the hypothesis that changes in occludin protein mobility are causative for changes in paracellular permeability. Using a renal epithelial cell model system, MDCK, we examined the effect of various manipulations on both leak pathway permeability, monitored as the paracellular movement of a fluorescent molecule (calcein), and occludin protein mobility, monitored through fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Our results indicate that knockdown of the associated tight junction protein, ZO-1, increases baseline leak pathway permeability, whereas, knockdown of the related tight junction protein, ZO-2, does not alter baseline leak pathway permeability. Knockdown of either ZO-1 or ZO-2 decreases the rate of movement of occludin protein but only knockdown of ZO-2 protein alters the percent of occludin protein that is mobile. Further, treatment with hydrogen peroxide increases leak pathway permeability in wild type MDCK cells and in ZO-2 knockdown MDCK cells but not in ZO-1 knockdown MDCK cells. This treatment decreases the rate of occludin movement in all three cell lines but only alters the mobile fraction of occludin protein in ZO-1 knockdown MDCK cells. Finally, we examined the effect of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury on occludin protein mobility in vivo.Ischemia/reperfusion injury both increased the rate of occludin mobility and increased the fraction of occludin protein that is mobile. These results indicate that, at least in our cell culture and in vivo model systems, there is no consistent correlation between paracellular leak pathway permeability and occludin protein mobility.

scholarly journals miR-27a-3p regulates expression of intercellular junctions at the brain endothelium and controls the endothelial barrier permeability

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0262152
Author(s):  
Rania Harati ◽  
Saba Hammad ◽  
Abdelaziz Tlili ◽  
Mona Mahfood ◽  
Aloïse Mabondzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tight Junction ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Adherens Junctions ◽  
Paracellular Permeability ◽  
Endothelial Barrier ◽  
Brain Endothelium ◽  
Barrier Permeability ◽  
Junction Protein ◽  
Endothelial Junctions ◽  
The Brain

Background The brain endothelial barrier permeability is governed by tight and adherens junction protein complexes that restrict paracellular permeability at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Dysfunction of the inter-endothelial junctions has been implicated in neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. The molecular mechanisms underlying junctional dysfunction during BBB impairment remain elusive. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as versatile regulators of the BBB function under physiological and pathological conditions, and altered levels of BBB-associated microRNAs were demonstrated in a number of brain pathologies including neurodegeneration and neuroinflammatory diseases. Among the altered micro-RNAs, miR-27a-3p was found to be downregulated in a number of neurological diseases characterized by loss of inter-endothelial junctions and disruption of the barrier integrity. However, the relationship between miR-27a-3p and tight and adherens junctions at the brain endothelium remains unexplored. Whether miR-27a-3p is involved in regulation of the junctions at the brain endothelium remains to be determined. Methods Using a gain-and-loss of function approach, we modulated levels of miR-27a-3p in an in-vitro model of the brain endothelium, key component of the BBB, and examined the resultant effect on the barrier paracellular permeability and on the expression of essential tight and adherens junctions. The mechanisms governing the regulation of junctional proteins by miR-27a-3p were also explored. Results Our results showed that miR-27a-3p inhibitor increases the barrier permeability and causes reduction of claudin-5 and occludin, two proteins highly enriched at the tight junction, while miR-27a-3p mimic reduced the paracellular leakage and increased claudin-5 and occludin protein levels. Interestingly, we found that miR-27-3p induces expression of claudin-5 and occludin by downregulating Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta (GSK3ß) and activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, a key pathway required for the BBB maintenance. Conclusion For the first time, we showed that miR-27a-3p is a positive regulator of key tight junction proteins, claudin-5 and occludin, at the brain endothelium through targeting GSK3ß gene and activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Thus, miR-27a-3p may constitute a novel therapeutic target that could be exploited to prevent BBB dysfunction and preserves its integrity in neurological disorders characterized by impairment of the barrier’s function.

scholarly journals A Synthetic Peptide Corresponding to the Extracellular Domain of Occludin Perturbs the Tight Junction Permeability Barrier

1997 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian Wong ◽  
Barry M. Gumbiner
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Tight Junction ◽  
Adherens Junction ◽  
Extracellular Domain ◽  
Integral Membrane Protein ◽  
Epithelial Cell Line ◽  
Permeability Barrier ◽  
Junction Protein ◽  
Tight Junction Permeability

Occludin, the putative tight junction integral membrane protein, is an attractive candidate for a protein that forms the actual sealing element of the tight junction. To study the role of occludin in the formation of the tight junction seal, synthetic peptides (OCC1 and OCC2) corresponding to the two putative extracellular domains of occludin were assayed for their ability to alter tight junctions in Xenopus kidney epithelial cell line A6. Transepithelial electrical resistance and paracellular tracer flux measurements indicated that the second extracellular domain peptide (OCC2) reversibly disrupted the transepithelial permeability barrier at concentrations of < 5 μM. Despite the increased paracellular permeability, there were no changes in gross epithelial cell morphology as determined by scanning EM. The OCC2 peptide decreased the amount of occludin present at the tight junction, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence, as well as decreased total cellular content of occludin, as assessed by Western blot analysis. Pulse-labeling and metabolic chase analysis suggested that this decrease in occludin level could be attributed to an increase in turnover of cellular occludin rather than a decrease in occludin synthesis. The effect on occludin was specific because other tight junction components, ZO-1, ZO-2, cingulin, and the adherens junction protein E-cadherin, were unaltered by OCC2 treatment. Therefore, the peptide corresponding to the second extracellular domain of occludin perturbs the tight junction permeability barrier in a very specific manner. The correlation between a decrease in occludin levels and the perturbation of the tight junction permeability barrier provides evidence for a role of occludin in the formation of the tight junction seal.

scholarly journals Occludin S408 phosphorylation regulates tight junction protein interactions and barrier function

2011 ◽  
Vol 193 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Raleigh ◽  
Devin M. Boe ◽  
Dan Yu ◽  
Christopher R. Weber ◽  
Amanda M. Marchiando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tight Junction ◽  
Dynamic Behavior ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Protein Complex ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Paracellular Permeability ◽  
Tight Junction Protein ◽  
Barrier Dysfunction ◽  
Junction Protein

Although the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of the tight junction protein occludin is heavily phosphorylated, the functional impact of most individual sites is undefined. Here, we show that inhibition of CK2-mediated occludin S408 phosphorylation elevates transepithelial resistance by reducing paracellular cation flux. This regulation requires occludin, claudin-1, claudin-2, and ZO-1. S408 dephosphorylation reduces occludin exchange, but increases exchange of ZO-1, claudin-1, and claudin-2, thereby causing the mobile fractions of these proteins to converge. Claudin-4 exchange is not affected. ZO-1 domains that mediate interactions with occludin and claudins are required for increases in claudin-2 exchange, suggesting assembly of a phosphorylation-sensitive protein complex. Consistent with this, binding of claudin-1 and claudin-2, but not claudin-4, to S408A occludin tail is increased relative to S408D. Finally, CK2 inhibition reversed IL-13–induced, claudin-2–dependent barrier loss. Thus, occludin S408 dephosphorylation regulates paracellular permeability by remodeling tight junction protein dynamic behavior and intermolecular interactions between occludin, ZO-1, and select claudins, and may have therapeutic potential in inflammation-associated barrier dysfunction.

A dominant mutant of occludin disrupts tight junction structure and function

1999 ◽  
Vol 112 (12) ◽  
pp. 1879-1888 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.D. Bamforth ◽  
U. Kniesel ◽  
H. Wolburg ◽  
B. Engelhardt ◽  
W. Risau
Keyword(s):  
Tight Junction ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Integral Membrane Protein ◽  
Epithelial Cell Line ◽  
Permeability Barrier ◽  
Cell Monolayers ◽  
Junction Protein ◽  
N Terminus ◽  
Freeze Fracture Electron Microscopy ◽  
And Function

The tight junction is the most apical intercellular junction of epithelial cells and forms a diffusion barrier between individual cells. Occludin is an integral membrane protein specifically associated with the tight junction which may contribute to the function or regulation of this intercellular seal. In order to elucidate the role of occludin at the tight junction, a full length and an N-terminally truncated murine occludin construct, both FLAG-tagged at the N terminus, were stably introduced into the murine epithelial cell line CSG 120/7. Both constructs were correctly targeted to the tight junction, as defined by colocalization with another tight junction protein, ZO-1. The construct lacking the N terminus and extracellular domains of occludin was found to exert a dramatic effect on tight junction integrity. Cell monolayers failed to develop an efficient permeability barrier, as demonstrated by low transcellular electrical resistance values and an increased paracellular flux to small molecular mass tracers. Furthermore, gaps were found to have been induced in the P-face associated tight junction strands, as visualized by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. These findings demonstrate an important role for the N-terminal half of occludin in tight junction assembly and maintaining the barrier function of the tight junction.

scholarly journals A Palmitoylethanolamide Producing Lactobacillus paracasei Improves Clostridium difficile Toxin A-Induced Colitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Esposito ◽  
Chiara Corpetti ◽  
Marcella Pesce ◽  
Luisa Seguella ◽  
Giuseppe Annunziata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Tight Junction ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Tight Junction Protein ◽  
Lactobacillus Paracasei ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Toxin A ◽  
Tight Junction Protein Expression ◽  
Junction Protein

Genetically engineered probiotics, able to in situ deliver therapeutically active compounds while restoring gut eubiosis, could represent an attractive therapeutic alternative in Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Palmitoylethanolamide is an endogenous lipid able to exert immunomodulatory activities and restore epithelial barrier integrity in human models of colitis, by binding the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-α (PPARα). The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy of a newly designed PEA-producing probiotic (pNAPE-LP) in a mice model of C. difficile toxin A (TcdA)-induced colitis. The human N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of PEA, was cloned and expressed in a Lactobacillus paracasei that was intragastrically administered to mice 7 days prior the induction of the colitis. Bacteria carrying the empty vector served as negative controls (pLP).In the presence of palmitate, pNAPE-LP was able to significantly increase PEA production by 27,900%, in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion. Mice treated with pNAPE-LP showed a significant improvement of colitis in terms of histological damage score, macrophage count, and myeloperoxidase levels (−53, −82, and −70.4%, respectively). This was paralleled by a significant decrease both in the expression of toll-like receptor-4 (−71%), phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (−72%), hypoxia-inducible factor-1-alpha (−53%), p50 (−74%), and p65 (−60%) and in the plasmatic levels of interleukin-6 (−86%), nitric oxide (−59%), and vascular endothelial growth factor (−71%). Finally, tight junction protein expression was significantly improved by pNAPE-LP treatment as witnessed by the rescue of zonula occludens-1 (+304%), Ras homolog family member A-GTP (+649%), and occludin expression (+160%). These protective effects were mediated by the specific release of PEA by the engineered probiotic as they were abolished in PPARα knockout mice and in wild-type mice treated with pLP. Herein, we demonstrated that pNAPE-LP has therapeutic potential in CDI by inhibiting colonic inflammation and restoring tight junction protein expression in mice, paving the way to next generation probiotics as a promising strategy in CDI prevention.

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