Dysregulation of claudin-7 leads to loss of E-cadherin expression and the increased invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells.

ABSTRACT: The claudins constitute a 24-member family of proteins that are critical for the function and formation of tight junctions. Here, we examine the expression of claudin-7 in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus and its possible role in tumor progression. In the normal esophagus, expression of claudin-7 was confined to the cell membrane of differentiated keratinocytes. However, in the tumor samples, claudin-7 expression is often lost or localized to the cytoplasm. Assaying esophageal SCC lines revealed variable expression of claudin-7, with some lacking expression completely. Knockdown of claudin-7 in SCC cell lines using a small interfering RNA approach led to decreased E-cadherin expression, increased cell growth, and enhanced invasion into a three-dimensional matrix. The opposite

SUBMITTER: Lioni M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1851859 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature