FIGURE 7.

Overexpression of claudin-2 attenuates starvation-induced changes in TJ barrier function. A, overexpression of human CLDN2 cDNA into Caco-2 cells (Caco-2^CLDN2), as detailed under “Experimental Procedures,” led to an increase in claudin-2 protein level, as assessed by Western blot analysis. *, p < 0.01 versus control empty vector-expressing cells (Caco-2^pEZM02). B, the starvation-induced increase in TER was inhibited significantly in claudin-2 overexpressing cells (Caco-2^CLDN2). *, p < 0.01. C, starvation caused a modest reduction in urea flux in Caco-2^CLDN2 cells compared with Caco-2^pEZM02 cells. *, p < 0.01.