Cldn7 deletion increased inflammatory cytokines and reduced apoptotic signals in cKO SIs. (A) The qRT-PCR analysis of common inflammatory cytokine genes, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-a, in 3-month-old control and cKO SIs. n = 4–5; 2-tailed, paired t test; *P < .05; **P < .01. (B) Protein levels of cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase and cleaved caspase-3 from 3-month-old control and cKO SIs were detected by immunoblotting. (C) The quantification of protein expression levels shown in panel B. n = 4; 2-tailed, paired t test; ***P < .001; ****P < .0001. (D) Protein expression levels of claudin 1, 3, 4, 7, 15, E-cadherin, and occludin from 3-month-old control and cKO SIs were detected by immunoblotting. (E) The quantification of protein expression levels shown in panel D. n = 3–4; 2-tailed, paired t test; **P < .01, P > .05. C-PARP, poly ADP-ribose polymerase; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.