Claudins in morphogenesis: Forming an epithelial tube

ABSTRACT

The claudin family of tetraspan transmembrane proteins is essential for tight junction formation and regulation of paracellular transport between epithelial cells. Claudins also play a role in apical-basal cell polarity, cell adhesion and link the tight junction to the actin cytoskeleton to exert effects on cell shape. The function of claudins in paracellular transport has been extensively studied through loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies in cell lines and in animal models, however, their role in morphogenesis has been less appreciated. In this review, we will highlight the importance of claudins during morphogenesis by specifically focusing on their critical functions in generating epithelial tubes, lumens, and tubular networks during organ formation.

KEYWORDS:

• animal model
• claudin
• epithelial tubulogenesis
• lumen
• morphogenesis
• neural tube
• tight junction

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank S. LaCharité-Harbec and M.P. Laverde for critical reading of the manuscript. AIB is the recipient of a doctoral studentship from Fonds de recherche du Québec– Santé (FRQS).

Funding

This work was supported by the Kidney Foundation of Canada (AKR and IRG), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (AKR), and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (IRG). AKR and IRG are members of the RI-MUHC, which is supported in part by the FRQS.