Fig. 7.

Effect of siRNA-induced knock down of occludin on enterocyte epithelial expression of occludin and claudin-2 in vivo. A pure population of villus enterocytes was isolated by laser capture microdissection (LCM). A: before and after LCM image of small intestinal mucosal surface. Arrows indicate the epithelial cells removed by LCM. B: occludin siRNA transfection caused a significant decrease in enterocyte occludin mRNA level as measured by real-time PCR (4 days posttransfection) (means ± SE, n = 4). *P < 0.001 vs. control. C: claudin-2 mRNA level was significantly increased in occludin siRNA-transfected enterocytes (means ± SE, n = 4). *P < 0.0001 vs. control.