Figure 3. Defective TJ formation and epidermal barrier function in the absence of Merlin in vivo.

(A–D) Immunostaining revealed the localization of both ZO-1 (green; A,B) and Claudin-1 (green; C,D) to cell:cell boundaries in suprabasal layers of the wild-type epidermis (A,C); in contrast, ZO-1 and Claudin-1 exhibited a diffuse and granular localization throughout the K14-Cre;Nf2^lox/lox epidermis (B,D). Co-staining with anti-β4-integrin (red) antibodies and DAPI (blue) highlight the basement membrane and nuclei respectively. Bars, 40 μm (A and B), 20 μm (C and D).

(E) Body weight decrease due to water loss declined more rapidly in K14-Cre;Nf2^lox/lox (yellow) neonatal mice relative to wild-type (blue) or K14-Cre;Nf2^lox/wt (red) neonates, consistent with a defective inside-out epidermal barrier. Values = mean +/− SD, also see Figure S3.