Induction of tight junctions in human connexin 32 (hCx32)-transfected mouse hepatocytes: Connexin 32 interacts with occludin

Takashi Kojima, Norimasa Sawada, Hideki Chiba, Yasuo Kokai, Masao Yamamoto, Marcia Urban, Gang Hong Lee, Elliot L. Hertzberg, Yohichi Mochizuki, David C. Spray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

86 Scopus citations

Abstract

Small gap junction plaques are associated with tight junction strands in some cell types including hepatocytes and it is thought that they may be closely related to tight junctions and the establishment of cell polarity. In order to examine roles of gap junctions in regulating expression and structure of tight junctions, we transfected human Cx32 cDNA into immortalized mouse hepatocytes (CHST8 cells) which lack endogenous Cx32 and Cx26. Immunocytochemistry revealed that endogenous integral tight junction protein occludin was strongly localized and was colocalized with Cx32 at cell borders in transfectants, whereas neither was detected in parental cells. In Northern blots, mRNAs encoding occludin and the other integral tight junction proteins, claudin-1 and -2, were induced in the transfectants compared to parental cells. In Western blots, occludin protein was increased in the transfectants compared to parental cells, and binding of occludin to Cx32 protein was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation. In freeze fracture of the transfectants, tight junction strands were more numerous and complex compared to parental cells, and small gap junction plaques appeared within induced tight junction strands. Nevertheless, no change in barrier function of tight junctions was observed. These results indicate that in hepatocytes, gap junction, and tight junction expression are closely coordinated, and that Cx32 may play a role in regulating occludin expression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)222-229
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume266
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 9 1999

Keywords

  • CHST8 cells
  • Claudin-1 and -2
  • Gap junction
  • ZO-1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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