Figure 3.

Claudin-2 and -3 immunoreactions in the NGB, GBC, NIBD, and IBDC groups. Claudin-2 was most intensely expressed in the normal gallbladder and significantly diminished in GBC compared with NGB. Claudin-3 was strongly expressed on the normal gallbladder epithelium, but only weak expression was seen in the normal intrahepatic bile ducts. A significant drop was found in claudin-3 positivity in the case of gallbladder and intrahepatic bile duct carcinomas compared with their corresponding normal regions. Bar = 0.05 mm.