Stromal Claudin14-heterozygosity, but not deletion, increases tumour blood leakage without affecting tumour growth.

ABSTRACT: The maintenance of endothelial cell-cell junctions is vital for the control of blood vessel leakage and is known to be important in the growth and maturation of new blood vessels during angiogenesis. Here we have investigated the role of a tight junction molecule, Claudin 14, in tumour blood vessel leakage, angiogenesis and tumour growth. Using syngeneic tumour models our results showed that genetic ablation of Claudin 14 was not sufficient to affect tumour blood vessel morphology or function. However, and surprisingly, Claudin 14-heterozygous mice displayed several blood vessel-related phenotypes including: disruption of ZO-1-positive cell-cell junctions in tumour blood vessels; abnormal distribution of basement membrane laminin around tumour blood vessels; increased intratumoural leakage

SUBMITTER: Baker M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3652830 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature