Roles of the claudin family of tight junction molecules in epithelial lumenformation of the submandibular gland

在这项研究中，我们研究了claudins和基因表达谱在小鼠下颌下腺上皮管形成中的作用。我们试图通过siRNA揭示claudin-10在培养的腺体的管形成中的作用，然而，没有获得表明管形成参与的明确结果。除了claudin家族的8个成员外，claudin-15在小鼠下颌下腺中表达。我们还确定了顶端膜蛋白和转录因子，在管形成过程中上调。这些分子将为我们理解上皮管形成的机制提供线索。

In this study, we investigated roles of claudins and gene expression profile in epithelial tube formation of the mouse submandibular gland. We tried to reveal the role of claudin-10 in tube formation of cultured glands by means of siRNAs, however, no clear results indicating the involvement of tube formation were obtained. In addition to the 8 members of the claudin family, claudin-15 was expressed in the mouse submandibular gland. We also identified apical membrane proteins and transcription factors that were up-regulated during tube formation. These molecules will give us clues to understanding mechanisms of epithelial tube formation.