TY - JOUR
T1 - Tight junctions in Schwann cells of peripheral myelinated axons
T2 - A lesson from claudin-19-deficient mice
AU - Miyamoto, Tatsuo
AU - Morita, Kazumasa
AU - Takemoto, Daisuke
AU - Takeuchi, Kosei
AU - Kitano, Yuka
AU - Miyakawa, Tsuyoshi
AU - Nakayama, Kiyomi
AU - Okamura, Yasushi
AU - Sasaki, Hiroyuki
AU - Miyachi, Yoshiki
AU - Furuse, Mikio
AU - Tsukita, Shoichiro
PY - 2005/5/9
Y1 - 2005/5/9
N2 - Tight junction (TJ)-like structures have been reported in Schwann cells, but their molecular composition and physiological function remain elusive. We found that claudin-19, a novel member of the claudin family (TJ adhesion molecules in epithelia), constituted these structures. Claudin-19-deficient mice were generated, and they exhibited behavioral abnormalities that could be attributed to peripheral nervous system deficits. Electrophysiological analyses showed that the claudin-19 deficiency affected the nerve conduction of peripheral myelinated fibers. Interestingly, the overall morphology of Schwann cells lacking claudin-19 expression appeared to be normal not only in the internodal region but also at the node of Ranvier, except that TJs completely disappeared, at least from the outer/inner mesaxons. These findings have indicated that, similar to epithelial cells, Schwann cells also bear claudin-based TJs, and they have also suggested that these TJs are not involved in the polarized morphogenesis but are involved in the electrophysiological "sealing" function of Schwann cells.
AB - Tight junction (TJ)-like structures have been reported in Schwann cells, but their molecular composition and physiological function remain elusive. We found that claudin-19, a novel member of the claudin family (TJ adhesion molecules in epithelia), constituted these structures. Claudin-19-deficient mice were generated, and they exhibited behavioral abnormalities that could be attributed to peripheral nervous system deficits. Electrophysiological analyses showed that the claudin-19 deficiency affected the nerve conduction of peripheral myelinated fibers. Interestingly, the overall morphology of Schwann cells lacking claudin-19 expression appeared to be normal not only in the internodal region but also at the node of Ranvier, except that TJs completely disappeared, at least from the outer/inner mesaxons. These findings have indicated that, similar to epithelial cells, Schwann cells also bear claudin-based TJs, and they have also suggested that these TJs are not involved in the polarized morphogenesis but are involved in the electrophysiological "sealing" function of Schwann cells.
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U2 - 10.1083/jcb.200501154
DO - 10.1083/jcb.200501154
M3 - Article
C2 - 15883201
AN - SCOPUS:21044437802
VL - 169
SP - 527
EP - 538
JO - Journal of Cell Biology
JF - Journal of Cell Biology
SN - 0021-9525
IS - 3
ER -