Alan S. L. Yu

Claudins and the Modulation of Tight Junction Permeability

Claudins are tight junction membrane proteins that are expressed in epithelia and endothelia and form paracellular barriers and pores that determine tight junction permeability. This review summarizes our current knowledge of this large protein family and discusses recent advances in our understanding of their structure and physiological functions.

Biology of claudins

Claudins are a family of tight junction membrane proteins that regulate paracellular permeability of epithelia, likely by forming the lining of the paracellular pore. Claudins are expressed throughout the renal tubule, and mutations in two claudin genes are now known to cause familial hypercalciuric hypomagnesemia with nephrocalcinosis. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the physiological role of various claudins in normal kidney function, and in understanding the fundamental biology of claudins, including the molecular basis for selectivity of permeation, claudin interactions in tight junction formation, and regulation of claudins by protein kinases and other intracellular signals.

Molecular Basis for Cation Selectivity in Claudin-2―based Paracellular Pores: Identification of an Electrostatic Interaction Site

Paracellular ion transport in epithelia is mediated by pores formed by members of the claudin family. The degree of selectivity and the molecular mechanism of ion permeation through claudin pores are poorly understood. By expressing a high-conductance claudin isoform, claudin-2, in high-resistance Madin-Darby canine kidney cells under the control of an inducible promoter, we were able to quantitate claudin pore permeability. Claudin-2 pores were found to be narrow, fluid filled, and cation selective. Charge selectivity was mediated by the electrostatic interaction of partially dehydrated permeating cations with a negatively charged site within the pore that is formed by the side chain carboxyl group of aspartate-65. Thus, paracellular pores use intrapore electrostatic binding sites to achieve a high conductance with a high degree of charge selectivity.

Claudins and the kidney.

Claudins are tight junction membrane proteins that regulate paracellular permeability of renal epithelia to small ions, solutes, and water. Claudins interact within the cell membrane and between neighboring cells to form tight junction strands and constitute both the paracellular barrier and the pore. The first extracellular domain of claudins is thought to be the pore-lining domain and contains the determinants of charge selectivity. Multiple claudins are expressed in different nephron segments; such differential expression likely determines the permeability properties of each segment. Recent evidence has identified claudin-2 as constituting the cation-reabsorptive pathway in the proximal tubule; claudin-14, -16, and -19 as forming a complex that regulates calcium transport in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle; and claudin-4, -7, and -8 as determinants of collecting duct chloride permeability. Mutations in claudin-16 and -19 cause familial hypercalciuric hypomagnesemia with nephrocalcinosis. The roles of other claudins in kidney diseases remain to be fully elucidated.

Claudin-8 modulates paracellular permeability to acidic and basic ions in MDCK II cells.

Renal net acid excretion requires tubular reabsorption of filtered bicarbonate, followed by secretion of protons and ammonium in the collecting duct, generating steep transtubular gradients for these ions. To prevent passive backleak of these ions, the tight junctions in the collecting duct must be highly impermeable to these ions. We previously generated a Madin‐Darby canine kidney (MDCK II) cell line with inducible expression of claudin‐8, a tight junction protein expressed in the collecting duct. In these cells, claudin‐8 was shown to function as a paracellular barrier to alkali metal and divalent cations. We have now used this model to test the hypothesis that claudin‐8 also functions as a paracellular barrier to acidic or basic ions involved in renal acid excretion. We developed a series of precise and unbiased methods, based on a combination of diffusion potential, short‐circuit current, and pH stat measurements, to estimate paracellular permeability to protons, ammonium and bicarbonate in MDCK II cells. We found that under control conditions (i.e. in the absence of claudin‐8), these cells are highly permeable to the acidic and basic ions tested. Interestingly, proton permeation exhibited an unusually low activation energy similar to that in bulk solution. This suggests that paracellular proton transfer may occur by a Grotthuss mechanism, implying that the paracellular pores are sufficiently wide to accommodate water molecules in a freely mobile state. Induction of claudin‐8 expression reduces permeability not only to protons, but also to ammonium and bicarbonate. We conclude that claudin‐8 probably functions to limit the passive leak of these three ions via paracellular routes, thereby playing a permissive role in urinary net acid excretion.

Structure-Function Studies of Claudin Extracellular Domains by Cysteine-scanning Mutagenesis

Claudins form size- and charge-selective pores in the tight junction that control the paracellular flux of inorganic ions and small molecules. However, the structural basis for ion selectivity of paracellular pores is poorly understood. Here we applied cysteine scanning to map the paracellular pathway of ion permeation across claudin-2-transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney type I cells. Four potential pore-lining amino acid residues in the first extracellular loop were mutated to cysteine and screened for their accessibility to thiol-reactive reagents. All mutants were functional except D65C, which formed dimers by intermolecular disulfide bonding, leading to a loss of charge and size selectivity. This suggests that claudin-2 pores are multimeric and that Asp65 lies close to a protein-protein interface. Methanethiosulfonate reagents of different size and charge and the organic mercury derivate, p-(chloromercuri)benzenesulfonic acid, significantly decreased paracellular ion permeation across I66C-transfected cells by a mechanism that suggests steric blocking of the pore. The conductance of wild-type claudin-2 and the other cysteine mutants was only weakly affected. The rate of reaction with I66C decreased dramatically with increasing size of the reagent, suggesting that Ile66 is buried deep within a narrow segment of the pore with its side group facing into the lumen. Furthermore, labeling with N-biotinoylaminoethyl methanethiosulfonate showed that I66C was weakly reactive, whereas Y35C was strongly reactive, suggesting that Tyr35 is located at the protein surface outside of the pore.

Charge-selective claudin channels

Claudins are the main determinants of barrier properties of the tight junction. Many claudins have been shown to act by tightening the paracellular pathway, but several function as paracellular channels. While some depend on the endogenous claudin background of the analyzed cell line, for other claudins, a distinct charge‐selectivity has been shown. This paper portrays cation‐selective (claudin‐2, claudin‐10b, claudin‐15) and anion‐selective (claudin‐10a, claudin‐17) claudins and claudins with debatable channel properties (claudin‐4, claudin‐7, claudin‐16). It also describes molecular properties determining the observed charge‐selectivity and pore properties in general. In leaky tissues, they widely determine overall transport characteristics by providing paracellular ion‐selective pathways. In small intestine, claudin‐2 and claudin‐15 replace each other in the developing gut. In kidney proximal tubules, claudin‐2, claudin‐10, and claudin‐17 allow for paracellular reabsorption of sodium, chloride, and water.

Claudin-8 Expression in Renal Epithelial Cells Augments the Paracellular Barrier by Replacing Endogenous Claudin-2

Claudins are transmembrane proteins of the tight junction that determine and regulate paracellular ion permeability. We previously reported that claudin-8 reduces paracellular cation permeability when expressed in low-resistance Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) II cells. Here, we address how the interaction of heterologously expressed claudin-8 with endogenous claudin isoforms impacts epithelial barrier properties. In MDCK II cells, barrier improvement by claudin-8 is accompanied by a reduction of endogenous claudin-2 protein at the tight junction. Here, we show that this is not because of relocalization of claudin-2 into the cytosolic pool but primarily due to a decrease in gene expression. Claudin-8 also affects the trafficking of claudin-2, which was displaced specifically from the junctions at which claudin-8 was inserted. To test whether replacement of cation-permeable claudin-2 mediates the effect of claudin-8 on the electrophysiological phenotype of the host cell line, we expressed claudin-8 in high-resistance MDCK I cells, which lack endogenous claudin-2. Unlike in MDCK II cells, induction of claudin-8 in MDCK I cells (which did not affect levels of endogenous claudins) did not alter paracellular ion permeability. Furthermore, when endogenous claudin-2 in MDCK II cells was downregulated by epidermal growth factor to create a cell model with low transepithelial resistance and low levels of claudin-2, the permeability effects of claudin-8 were also abolished. Our findings demonstrate that claudin overexpression studies measure the combined effect of alterations in both endogenous and exogenous claudins, thus explaining the dependence of the phenotype on the host cell line.

Claudins and paracellular transport: an update.

Purpose of reviewClaudins are tight junction proteins that form paracellular barriers and pores. The purpose of this timely review is to provide an update on the exciting new advances in our understanding of claudin biology and their relevance to renal physiology and pathophysiology. Recent findingsAccumulating evidence from numerous studies indicates that the primary role of claudins is to determine the permeability and charge selectivity of the paracellular pathway to small ions. Studies in which claudins are overexpressed in cell lines have potential limitations and need to be interpreted cautiously. Ribonucleic acid interference is a novel approach to functional characterization. Claudins are believed to assemble into multimers by homophilic and heterophilic side-by-side and head-to-head interaction; however, there is still limited evidence for this. The roles of a few claudins in the renal tubule, including claudins 2, 8, 10, 16 and 19, have now been elucidated. SummaryThese findings reveal tantalizing clues to claudin biology and function. Much remains unknown, however, and these findings will hopefully encourage further research in this important area.

Gα12 regulates protein interactions within the MDCK cell tight junction and inhibits tight-junction assembly

The polarized functions of epithelia require an intact tight junction (TJ) to restrict paracellular movement and to separate membrane proteins into specific domains. TJs contain scaffolding, integral membrane and signaling proteins, but the mechanisms that regulate TJs and their assembly are not well defined. Gα12 (GNA12) binds the TJ protein ZO-1 (TJP1), and Gα12 activates Src to increase paracellular permeability via unknown mechanisms. Herein, we identify Src as a component of the TJ and find that recruitment of Hsp90 to activated Gα12 is necessary for signaling. TJ integrity is disrupted by Gα12-stimulated Src phosphorylation of ZO-1 and ZO-2 (TJP2); this phosphorylation leads to dissociation of occludin and claudin 1 from the ZO-1 protein complex. Inhibiting Hsp90 with geldanamycin blocks Gα12-stimulated Src activation and phosphorylation, but does not affect protein levels or the Gα12–ZO-1 interaction. Using the calcium-switch model of TJ assembly and GST-TPR (GST-fused TPR domain of PP5) pull-downs of activated Gα12, we demonstrate that switching to normal calcium medium activates endogenous Gα12 during TJ assembly. Thrombin increases permeability and delays TJ assembly by activating Gα12, but not Gα13, signaling pathways. These findings reveal an important role for Gα12, Src and Hsp90 in regulating the TJ in established epithelia and during TJ assembly.