布拉酵母菌对胃黏膜上皮细胞损伤的保护作用及机制

目的 研究布拉酵母菌对胃黏膜上皮细胞损伤的保护作用。方法 建立人胃黏膜上皮细胞GES-1单层细胞模型,并将其分为对照组,布拉酵母菌上清培养组,阿司匹林处理组（18.32 mmol/L）,阿司匹林+布拉酵母菌上清液组。采用流式细胞术检测各组细胞凋亡率;采用免疫荧光、Western blot方法检测胃黏膜上皮细胞中Occludin和ZO-1蛋白、JNK蛋白、ERK蛋白、磷酸化JNK（p-JNK）蛋白、磷酸化ERK（p-ERK）蛋白表达水平。结果 流式细胞术显示阿司匹林+布拉酵母菌上清液组凋亡率低于阿司匹林处理组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;免疫荧光结果显示,阿司匹林+布拉酵母菌上清液组Occludin蛋白、ZO-1蛋白表达较阿司匹林处理组增加,Western blot结果显示,阿司匹林+布拉酵母菌上清液组的该两种蛋白表达量较阿司匹林处理组增加,阿司匹林+布拉酵母菌上清液组p-ERK、p-JNK蛋白表达较阿司匹林处理组减少。结论 布拉酵母菌对阿司匹林造成的胃黏膜上皮细胞损伤有保护作用,其机制可能通过抑制MAPK信号通路中ERK、JNK的激活而上调Occludin和ZO-1蛋白的表达。     

二氮嗪对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后ZO-1和Claudin-5蛋白表达的影响

目的观察二氮嗪对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后紧密连接相关蛋白ZO-1和Claudin-5蛋白表达的影响,研究其对血脑屏障紧密连接是否具有保护作用。方法将30只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为3组:假手术组、缺血再灌注组及二氮嗪预处理组,采用线栓法建立大鼠大脑中动脉缺血再灌注模型,分别应用免疫组化染色和Western blot检测各组大鼠ZO-1和Claudin-5蛋白的表达水平。结果 1.假手术组ZO-1、Claudin-5在血管上的染色连续、丰富,缺血再灌注组ZO-1、Claudin-5的染色稀少、断续,二氮嗪预处理组染色较缺血再灌注组有所改善;2.Western blot定量测定与假手术组相比,缺血再灌注组大鼠脑组织中ZO-1和Claudin-5蛋白表达均明显下降(P0.01),与缺血再灌注组相比,二氮嗪预处理组ZO-1和Claudin-5的蛋白表达明显增多(P0.05)。结论二氮嗪对血脑屏障紧密连接具有保护作用,其机制可能与增加紧密连接相关蛋白ZO-1和Claudin-5的表达有关。     

柔肝固肠方改善慢性酒精性肝损伤大鼠肠道通透性的机制研究

目的：从肠道紧密连接及黏附连接角度探讨柔肝固肠方改善慢性酒精性肝损伤大鼠肠道通透性的作用机制。方法：Lieber-DeCarli酒精液体饲料饲养6周诱导大鼠慢性酒精性肝损伤模型。30只SD雄性大鼠,随机分无酒精液体饲料对照组（对照组,n＝10）和酒精液体饲料造模组（n＝20）,造模第4周将造模组大鼠随机分模型组（n＝10）,柔肝固肠方组（n＝10）,并开始灌胃给柔肝固肠方或蒸馏水直至6周末,取材前3．5 h各组以10 mg／kg的内毒素（LPS）灌胃。取材后检测：1）血清AST、ALT活性变化;2）通过门脉血浆内毒素含量测定判断小肠通透性变化;3）小肠组织电镜超微结构观察;4）小肠紧密连接蛋白ZO-1、Occludin蛋白与mRNA表达变化;5）小肠黏附连接蛋白β-Catenin和E-Cadherin蛋白表达。结果：1）柔肝固肠方可显著降低模型大鼠显著升高的AST水平（P＜0．05）;2）柔肝固肠方可降低模型大鼠显著升高的小肠通透性,柔肝固肠方组血浆内毒素含量显著低于模型组;3）电镜结果显示柔肝固肠方可显著改善Lieber-DeCarli酒精饲料喂养大鼠小肠黏膜表面微绒毛局灶性减少、变短、稀疏,排列不规则,同微绒毛相连的细胞终末网变性模糊等病理改变;4）柔肝固肠方可显著升高酒精饲料喂养肝损伤大鼠小肠组织紧密连接蛋白ZO-1、Occludin蛋白与mRNA表达及黏附连接蛋白β-Catenin和E-Cadherin蛋白表达。结论：柔肝固肠方通过改善肠上皮紧密连接及黏附连接改善慢性酒精性肝损伤大鼠肠道通透性改变。     

ZO-1/ZONAB信号通路与细胞的增殖分化

闭合小带蛋白-1(zonula occludens-1,ZO-1)相关性核酸结合蛋白(ZO-1-associated nucleic acid binding protein,ZONAB)是一种Y-box转录抑制因子。ZONAB结合于ZO-1的SH3(Src homology 3)结构域,并与多种调控细胞周期的基因、蛋白质、酶、转录因子等相互作用,共同构成ZO-1/ZONAB信号通路。研究证实,ZO-1/ZONAB信号通路参与多种细胞的增殖与分化、基因表达及器官发生等过程的调控,主要涉及肾小管、视网膜、角膜、肺泡上皮、神经胶质细胞及肿瘤等组织细胞。ZO-1/ZONAB信号通路调控细胞增殖分化的具体机制尚未完全阐明,但已在细胞再生、干细胞医学及肿瘤学等领域显示出潜在而巨大的研究价值。该文主要针对ZO-1/ZONAB信号通路与细胞增殖分化的最新研究进行综述。     

血必净注射液联合奥曲肽用于急性重症胰腺炎的疗效评价及对血清TNF-α、HMGB1、ZO-1水平的影响

目的:研究血必净注射液联合奥曲肽用于急性重症胰腺炎的临床疗效及对血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、高迁移率族蛋白1(HMGB1)、闭锁小带蛋白1(ZO-1)水平的影响。方法:选择2013年11月至2016年11月在我院接受治疗的急性重症胰腺炎患者116例,按照不同治疗方法分为对照组和观察组,对照组使用奥曲肽治疗,观察组使用血必净联合奥曲肽治疗。比较两组患者临床疗效及治疗前后血清TNF-α、HMGB1、ZO-1、D-乳酸、内霉素、二胺氧化酶水平、乳果糖/甘露醇排除比值的变化及治疗后临床症状缓解时间和器官功能衰竭的发生情况。结果:与治疗前相比,患者血清TNF-α、HMGB1、D-乳酸、内霉素、二胺氧化酶、乳果糖/甘露醇排除比值水平均显著降低,血清ZO-1水平有所提高(P0.05);与对照组相比,观察组总有效率(93.1%)较高,血清TNF-α、HMGB1、D-乳酸、内霉素、二胺氧化酶水平、乳果糖/甘露醇排除比值较低,血清ZO-1蛋白表达较高,临床症状缓解时间较短,器官功能衰竭的发生率较低(P0.05)。结论:血必净注射液联合奥曲肽治疗急性重症胰腺炎能有效改善患者的临床症状及肠道黏膜屏障损伤,提高临床疗效,可能与其降低患者血清TNF-α、HMGB1水平,提高血清ZO-1表达有关。     

乳腺癌相关透明质酸变化对淋巴内皮细胞紧密连接分子ZO-1分布及细胞增殖的影响

该研究旨在探讨乳腺癌来源的透明质酸(hyaluronic acid,HA)分子大小变化对淋巴内皮细胞紧密连接分子ZO-1(zonula occludens-1)分布情况以及细胞增殖的影响。采用免疫组化实验检测8对良性乳腺疾病和乳腺癌患者组织HA的表达水平,利用酶联免疫吸附实验检测20对正常人与乳腺癌患者血清中透明质酸分解酶(hyaluronidase,Hyase)含量;通过免疫荧光法、荧光素钠渗透实验、MTT增殖实验和Western blot分别观察HA和寡分子透明质酸(oligosaccharides of Hyaluronic acid,o HA)作用淋巴内皮细胞后ZO-1分布、单层细胞渗透性、细胞增殖以及下游ROCK1/Rho A信号通路变化。结果表明,与良性乳腺疾病对照组比较,乳腺癌患者HA表达量明显增加(P0.01);与正常人相比,乳腺癌患者血清Hyase水平显著升高(P0.01),提示乳腺癌发生时,HA升高伴随其降解酶增多,HA代谢活性增加。HA增强细胞间ZO-1的连接,对ROCK1/Rho A蛋白表达水平无明显影响;相反,o HA促使淋巴内皮细胞ZO-1由胞膜向胞浆分布,导致细胞连接呈褶皱状,形成细胞间隙,淋巴管渗透性增加,上调ROCK1/Rho A蛋白表达水平,促进淋巴内皮细胞增殖(P0.01)。研究提示,o HA可能在乳腺癌淋巴管形态及增殖中发挥重要作用。     

骶神经电刺激对脊髓损伤大鼠肠黏膜机械屏障的保护作用

目的：观察骶神经电刺激对脊髓损伤大鼠肠黏膜机械屏障的保护作用。方法：56只Wistar大鼠分7组（n=8）：正常组、急性完全性脊髓损伤（SCI）组和骶神经电刺激组（按24、48、72h各8只）。进行内毒素测定;肠系膜淋巴结、肝脏、脾脏菌培养;肠道形态学观察;紧密连接蛋白zo-1的蛋白表达测定。结果：对照组肠黏膜不同程度损伤;肠道上皮细胞及细胞间连接破坏;内毒素血症和细菌移位明显。实验组肠黏膜得到改善,内毒素水平下降且细菌移位减少。ZO-1蛋白表达无统计学差异。对照组ZO-1的分布出现不同程度的散乱、排列不规则,实验组分布得到改善。结论：骶神经电刺激可促肠蠕动、排肠内容物、减少肠道菌群数量,保护肠黏膜上皮细胞及紧密连接的机械屏障,减少细菌移位和内毒素血症。     

糖尿病并发抑郁症大鼠海马血脑屏障结构的损伤及其机制

目的：研究糖尿病并发抑郁症大鼠海马血脑屏障结构关键蛋白紧密连接蛋白（ZO-1）、基底膜蛋白（CoIV）、周细胞蛋白（a-SMA）的表达情况及其损伤机制。方法：采用高脂灌胃14 d后,再尾静脉注射链脲佐菌素（STZ,38mg/kg）,随机分为2组（n=15）：糖尿病组和糖尿病并发抑郁症组;正常大鼠随机分为2组（n=15）：空白对照组和抑郁症组。糖尿病组与空白对照组正常饲养,糖尿病并发抑郁症组和抑郁症组慢性不可预知性应激28 d。检测各组大鼠血糖值的变化,Open-field及Morris实验评价大鼠行为学变化,透射电子显微镜观察大鼠海马血脑屏障形态学改变,免疫组化法检测大鼠海马血脑屏障关键蛋白ZO-1、CoIV、a-SMA表达情况。结果：与空白对照组比较,糖尿病并发抑郁症组大鼠血糖异常升高,自主活动次数减少,逃避潜伏期延长,空间探索时间减少（P < 0.05,P < 0. 01）;海马血脑屏障内皮模糊,毛细血管管腔狭窄,周边胶质细胞终足水肿,ZO-1、α-SMA表达显著减少（P < 0. 05）,CoIV的表达显著增加（P < 0.05）;与糖尿病组比较,糖尿病并发抑郁症组大鼠自主活动次数显著减少（P < 0. 01）,逃避潜伏期延长（P < 0.05）,海马血脑屏障毛细血管管腔更为狭窄、胶质细胞终足水肿更为明显,a-SMA表达显著下降（P< 0.05）。结论：糖尿病并发抑郁症血脑屏障关键蛋白ZO-1、CoIV、α-SMA表达紊乱可能是其结构损伤发生机制之一。     

整肠生对溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠上皮屏障的保护作用

目的 探讨整肠生对溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠道紧密连接蛋白表达以及对氧化应激反应的影响。方法 选用雄性8~10周龄C57BL/6小鼠40只,随机分为4组：对照组、模型组（3% DSS）、5-ASA组（3% DSS+5-ASA 200 mg/kg灌胃）和整肠生组（3% DSS+联合整肠生及5-ASA灌胃）,每组10只,造模7 d。观察各组小鼠便血程度、组织学损伤情况,通过投射电镜观察各组肠道上皮间紧密连接改变情况,应用Western blot和RT-PCR的方法,检测小鼠结肠黏膜紧密连接蛋白Occludin、ZO-1、Claudin-2的表达情况。结果 （1）与模型组比较,5-ASA组和整肠生组小鼠便血程度明显减轻,DAI评分显著降低（P<0.05）。整肠生组与5-ASA组比较,便血减轻,DAI评分降低（P<0.05）。（2）电镜显示,对照组肠上皮间紧密连接呈一条致密条带,结构完整,见细胞桥粒,微绒毛光滑、排列整齐,细胞间隙狭窄;模型组肠上皮间紧密连接结构松散、模糊、密度降低,桥粒结构消失,微绒毛稀疏,短缩且长短不一,细胞间隙增宽;各治疗组的紧密连接的破坏情况较模型组有不同程度的改善,整肠生组紧密连接清晰,细胞间隙缩窄,微绒毛排列整齐,出现细胞桥粒。（3）应用Western blot和Real time-PCR法检测,与正常组相比,模型组Occludin、ZO-1蛋白和mRNA表达显著下降,Claudin-2表达显著上调（P<0.05）;各治疗组较模型组Occludin、ZO-1蛋白表达上调,Claudin-2蛋白表达下调（P<0.05）,整肠生组较单用5-ASA组更明显提高Occludin、ZO-1蛋白和mRNA表达。（4）与正常组相比,模型组MDA含量增高,SOD活性降低,与5-ASA组相比,整肠生组能更显著地降低MDA含量,提高SOD活性（P<0.05）。结论 联合应用整肠生通过调节紧密连接蛋白Occludin、ZO-1的表达和降低氧化应激反应,来改善溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠上皮屏障功能。     

益生菌对胆汁淤积性黄疸大鼠小肠上皮细胞紧密连接蛋白的影响

目的探讨双歧三联活菌(培菲康)对胆汁淤积性大鼠小肠上皮细胞紧密连接蛋白ZO-1(zonula oc-cludens-1)和Occludin表达的调控机制。方法雄性3周龄SD大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组和培菲康组,模型组和培菲康组均给予α-异硫氰酸萘酯(ANIT)50 mg/kg一次性灌胃,建立急性肝内胆汁淤积动物模型,培菲康组于造模前4 d开始给予培菲康4.2×107个活菌数/(kg.d)灌胃大鼠。分别于造模后24、48和72 h三个时间点处死大鼠,取末端回肠黏膜组织,采用免疫组化和Western blots免疫印迹法检测紧密连接蛋白ZO-1、闭锁蛋白(Occludin)的分布和表达,并利用图像分析系统对Western blots图像结果进行定量分析。结果ZO-1和Occludin蛋白主要沿大鼠小肠黏膜上皮细胞膜的顶端呈线状分布,模型组大鼠24 h时ZO-1和Occludin的阳性染色较对照组减少,48 h减少最为明显,72 h阳性染色有所恢复,而培菲康组大鼠各时间点ZO-1和Occludin的阳性染色和模型组相比均明显增多。Western blots结果与免疫组织化学结果相一致,模型组24 h已经开始下降(ZO-1 0.1294±0.0481)、(Oc-cludin 0.1950±0.0441),48 h达到最低(ZO-1 0.0395±0.0095)、(Occludin 0.0137±0.0092),72 h开始恢复(ZO-10.2024±0.0498)、(Occludin 0.1494±0.0355),各时间点与对照组(ZO-1 0.2887±0.0237)、(Occludin 0.4266±0.0670)相比差异有统计学意义(P0.01);而培菲康组各时间点蛋白表达分别为24 h(ZO-1 0.2110±0.0367)、(Occludin 0.3056±0.0572),48 h(ZO-1 0.1173±0.0423)、(Occludin 0.0521±0.0123),72 h(ZO-1 0.2601±0.0191)、(Occludin 0.2050±0.0721),与模型组相应时间点数据相比差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论双歧三联活菌能够影响胆汁淤积性大鼠小肠黏膜上皮紧密连接蛋白的分布和表达,可以恢复肠黏膜上皮屏障的完整性。     

长链非编码RNA LINC00885在人食管癌细胞中的作用研究

探讨长链非编码RNA LINC00885对人食管癌细胞EC109增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响。构建LINC00885基因过表达质粒（pcDNA3.1-LINC00885）和shRNA敲低质粒（pLKO.1-LINC00885）。分别采用集落形成实验检测EC109细胞增殖能力;划痕实验检测EC109细胞横向迁移能力;Transwell实验检测EC109细胞纵向迁移能力及侵袭能力;流式实验检测LINC00885对于细胞周期的调控;实时定量PCR方法检测LINC00885 mRNA转录水平;Western blot检测BMP7及上皮间充质转化（epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition,EMT）通路相关蛋白（VIMENTIN、β-catenim和ZO-1）表达水平。在过表达LINC00885的EC109细胞中,细胞的增殖能力、迁移能力及侵袭能力均显著增强,BMP7蛋白表达升高;而在敲低表达LINC00885的EC109细胞中,细胞的增殖能力、迁移能力与侵袭能力均显著降低,BMP7蛋白表达也随之降低。另外,在过表达LINC00885的EC109细胞中,EMT通路蛋白VI...     

Zona Occludens-2 Inhibits Cyclin D1 Expression and Cell Proliferation and Exhibits Changes in Localization along the Cell Cycle

Here, we have studied the effect of the tight junction protein zona occludens (ZO)-2 on cyclin D1 (CD1) protein expression. CD1 is essential for cell progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. We have found that in cultures of synchronized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, ZO-2 inhibits cell proliferation at G0/G1 and decreases CD1 protein level. These effects occur in response to a diminished CD1 translation and an augmented CD1 degradation at the proteosome triggered by ZO-2. ZO-2 overexpression decreases the amount of Glycogen synthase kinase-3β phosphorylated at Ser9 and represses β-catenin target gene expression. We have also explored the expression of ZO-2 through the cell cycle and demonstrate that ZO-2 enters the nucleus at the late G1 phase and leaves the nucleus when the cell is in mitosis. These results thus explain why in confluent quiescent epithelia ZO-2 is absent from the nucleus and localizes at the cellular borders, whereas in sparse proliferating cultures ZO-2 is conspicuously present at the nucleus.     

Different effects of ZO-1, ZO-2 and ZO-3 silencing on kidney collecting duct principal cell proliferation and adhesion

Coordinated cell proliferation and ability to form intercellular seals are essential features of epithelial tissue function. Tight junctions (TJs) classically act as paracellular diffusion barriers. More recently, their role in regulating epithelial cell proliferation in conjunction with scaffolding zonula occludens (ZO) proteins has come to light. The kidney collecting duct (CD) is a model of tight epithelium that displays intense proliferation during embryogenesis followed by very low cell turnover in the adult kidney. Here, we examined the influence of each ZO protein (ZO-1, -2 and -3) on CD cell proliferation. We show that all 3 ZO proteins are strongly expressed in native CD and are present at both intercellular junctions and nuclei of cultured CD principal cells (mCCD_cl1). Suppression of either ZO-1 or ZO-2 resulted in increased G₀/G₁ retention in mCCD_cl1 cells. ZO-2 suppression decreased cyclin D1 abundance while ZO-1 suppression was accompanied by increased nuclear p21 localization, the depletion of which restored cell cycle progression. Contrary to ZO-1 and ZO-2, ZO-3 expression at intercellular junctions dramatically increased with cell density and relied on the presence of ZO-1. ZO-3 depletion did not affect cell cycle progression but increased cell detachment. This latter event partly relied on increased nuclear cyclin D1 abundance and was associated with altered β1-integrin subcellular distribution and decreased occludin expression at intercellular junctions. These data reveal diverging, but interconnected, roles for each ZO protein in mCCD_cl1 proliferation. While ZO-1 and ZO-2 participate in cell cycle progression, ZO-3 is an important component of cell adhesion.     

Molecular characterization and tissue distribution of ZO-2, a tight junction protein homologous to ZO-1 and the Drosophila discs-large tumor suppressor protein

ZO-1 is a 210-225-kD peripheral membrane protein associated with cytoplasmic surfaces of the zonula occludens or tight junction. A 160- kD polypeptide, designated ZO-2, was found to coimmunoprecipitate with ZO-1 from MDCK cell extracts prepared under conditions which preserve protein associations (Gumbiner, B., T. Lowenkopf, and D. Apatira. 1991. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 88: 3460-3464). We have isolated ZO-2 from MDCK cell monolayers by bulk coimmunoprecipitation with ZO-1 followed by electroelution from preparative SDS-PAGE gel slices. Amino acid sequence information obtained from a ZO-2 tryptic fragment was used to isolate a partial cDNA clone from an MDCK library. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed that canine ZO-2 contains a region that is very similar to sequences in human and mouse ZO-1. This region includes both a 90-amino acid repeat domain of unknown function and guanylate kinase- like domains which are shared among members of the family of proteins that includes ZO-1, erythrocyte p55, the product of the lethal(1)discs- large-1 (dlg) gene of Drosophila, and a synapse-associated protein from rat brain, PSD-95/SAP90. The dlg gene product has been shown to act as a tumor suppressor in the imaginal disc of the Drosophila larva, although the functions of other family members have not yet been defined. A polyclonal antiserum was raised against a unique region of ZO-2 and found to exclusively label the cytoplasmic surfaces of tight junctions in MDCK plasma membrane preparations, indicating that ZO-2 is a tight junction-associated protein. Immunohistochemical staining of frozen sections of whole tissue demonstrated that ZO-2 localized to the region of the tight junction in a number of epithelia, including liver, intestine, kidney, testis, and arterial endothelium, suggesting that this protein is a ubiquitous component of the tight junction. Double- label immunofluorescence microscopy performed on cryosections of heart, a nonepithelial tissue, revealed the presence of ZO-1 but no ZO-2 staining at the fascia adherens, a specialized junction of cardiac myocytes which has previously been shown to contain ZO-1 (Itoh, M., S. Yonemura, A. Nagafuchi, S. Tsukita, and Sh. Tsukita. 1991. J. Cell Biol. 115:1449-1462). Thus it appears that ZO-2 is not a component of the fascia adherens, and that unlike ZO-1, this protein is restricted to the epithelial tight junction.     

Regulation of tight junction assembly and epithelial morphogenesis by the heat shock protein Apg-2

Background  

Tight junctions are required for epithelial barrier formation and participate in the regulation of signalling mechanisms that control proliferation and differentiation. ZO-1 is a tight junction-associated adaptor protein that regulates gene expression, junction assembly and epithelial morphogenesis. We have previously demonstrated that the heat shock protein Apg-2 binds ZO-1 and thereby regulates its role in cell proliferation. Here, we addressed the question whether Apg-2 is also important for junction formation and epithelial morphogenesis.     

Tight junction protein ZO-2 expression and relative function of ZO-1 and ZO-2 during mouse blastocyst formation

Apicolateral tight junctions (TJs) between epithelial cells are multiprotein complexes regulating membrane polarity and paracellular transport and also contribute to signalling pathways affecting cell proliferation and gene expression. ZO-2 and other ZO family members form a sub-membranous scaffold for binding TJ constituents. We investigated ZO-2 contribution to TJ biogenesis and function during trophectoderm epithelium differentiation in mouse preimplantation embryos. Our data indicate that ZO-2 is expressed from maternal and embryonic genomes with maternal ZO-2 protein associated with nuclei in zygotes and particularly early cleavage stages. Embryonic ZO-2 assembled at outer blastomere apicolateral junctional sites from the late 16-cell stage. Junctional ZO-2 first co-localised with E-cadherin in a transient complex comprising adherens junction and TJ constituents before segregating to TJs after their separation from the blastocyst stage (32-cell onwards). ZO-2 siRNA microinjection into zygotes or 2-cell embryos resulted in specific knockdown of ZO-2 mRNA and protein within blastocysts. Embryos lacking ZO-2 protein at trophectoderm TJs exhibited delayed blastocoel cavity formation but underwent normal cell proliferation and outgrowth morphogenesis. Quantitative analysis of trophectoderm TJs in ZO-2-deficient embryos revealed increased assembly of ZO-1 but not occludin, indicating ZO protein redundancy as a compensatory mechanism contributing to the mild phenotype observed. In contrast, ZO-1 knockdown, or combined ZO-1 and ZO-2 knockdown, generated a more severe inhibition of blastocoel formation indicating distinct roles for ZO proteins in blastocyst morphogenesis.     

Truncation mutants of the tight junction protein ZO-1 disrupt corneal epithelial cell morphology

The tight junction is the most apical intercellular junction of epithelial cells and regulates transepithelial permeability through the paracellular pathway. To examine possible functions for the tight junction-associated protein ZO-1, C-terminally truncated mutants and a deletion mutant of ZO-1 were epitope tagged and stably expressed in corneal epithelial cell lines. Only full-length ZO-1 and one N-terminal truncation mutant targeted to cell borders; other mutants showed variable cytoplasmic distributions. None of the mutants initially disrupted the localization of endogenous ZO-1. However, long-term stable expression of two of the N-terminal mutants resulted in a dramatic change in cell shape and patterns of gene expression. An elongated fibroblast-like shape replaced characteristic epithelial cobblestone morphology. In addition, vimentin and smooth muscle actin expression were up-regulated, although variable cytokeratin expression remained, suggesting a partial transformation to a mesenchymal cell type. Concomitant with the morphological change, the expression of the integral membrane tight junction protein occludin was significantly down-regulated. The localizations of endogenous ZO-1 and another family member, ZO-2, were disrupted. These findings suggest that ZO-1 may participate in regulation of cellular differentiation.