Homoharringtonine is a transdermal granular permeation enhancer.

Although modulation of claudin-1-based tight junction (TJ) in stratum granulosum is an option for transdermal absorption of drugs, granular permeation enhancers have never been developed. We previously found that homoharringtonine (HHT), a natural alkanoid, weakened intestinal epithelial barrier with changing expression and cellular localization of TJ components such as claudin-1 and claudin-4. In the present study, we investigated whether HHT is an epidermal granular permeation enhancer.

Angubindin-1 opens the blood-brain barrier in vivo for delivery of antisense oligonucleotide to the central nervous system.

Within the field of RNA therapeutics, antisense oligonucleotide-based therapeutics are a potentially powerful means of treating intractable diseases. However, if these therapeutics are used for the treatment of neurological disorders, safe yet efficient methods of delivering antisense oligonucleotides across the blood-brain barrier to the central nervous system must be developed. Here, we examined the use of angubindin-1, a binder to the tricellular tight junction, to modulate paracellular transport between brain microvascular endothelial cells in the blood-brain barrier for the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides to the central nervous system.

Safety evaluation of a human chimeric monoclonal antibody that recognizes the extracellular loop domain of claudin-2.

Claudin-2 (CLDN-2), a pore-forming tight junction protein with a tetra-transmembrane domain, is involved in carcinogenesis and the metastasis of some cancers. Although CLDN-2 is highly expressed in the tight junctions of the liver and kidney, whether CLDN-2 is a safe target for cancer therapy remains unknown. We recently generated a rat monoclonal antibody (mAb, clone 1A2) that recognizes the extracellular domains of human and mouse CLDN-2.

Lignosulfonic acid attenuates NF-κB activation and intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction induced by TNF-α/IFN-γ in Caco-2 cells.

Lentinula edodes mycelia solid culture extract (MSCE) is used as a medical food ingredient and provides beneficial effects to patients with cancer and chronic type C hepatitis. Low molecular weight lignin (LM-lignin), which is an active component of MSCE, exhibits hepatoprotective, antitumor, antiviral, and immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of LM-lignin/lignosulfonic acid on intestinal barrier function.

Identification of claudin-4 binder that attenuates tight junction barrier function by TR-FRET-based screening assay.

Claudins are key functional and structural components of tight junctions (TJs) in epithelial cell sheets. The C-terminal fragment of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (C-CPE) binds to claudin-4 and reversibly modulates intestinal TJ seals, thereby enhancing paracellular transport of solutes. However, the use of C-CPE as an absorption enhancer is limited by the molecule's immunogenicity and manufacturing cost.

Creation of a Claudin-2 Binder and Its Tight Junction-Modulating Activity in a Human Intestinal Model.

Disruption of the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier is a hallmark of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The transmembrane protein claudin 2 (CLDN2) is a component of epithelial tight junctions (TJs). In the intestines of patients with IBDs, the expression of the pore-forming TJ protein CLDN2 is upregulated.

Claudin-5-Binders Enhance Permeation of Solutes across the Blood-Brain Barrier in a Mammalian Model.

A current bottleneck in the development of central nervous system (CNS) drugs is the lack of drug delivery systems targeting the CNS. The intercellular space between endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is sealed by complex protein-based structures called tight junctions (TJs). Claudin-5 (CLDN-5), a tetra-transmembrane protein is a key component of the TJ seal that prevents the paracellular diffusion of drugs into the CNS.

Angubindin-1, a novel paracellular absorption enhancer acting at the tricellular tight junction.

A limiting barrier for mucosal absorption of drugs is the tight junction (TJ). TJs exist between two adjacent cells (bicellular TJ, bTJ) and at the sites where three cells meet (tricellular TJ, tTJ). We present a novel approach which employs a physiologically regulated pathway for the passage of large molecules through the tTJ.

Rebeccamycin Attenuates TNF-α-Induced Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction by Inhibiting Myosin Light Chain Kinase Production.

Background/aims: Although proinflammatory cytokine-induced disruption of intestinal epithelial barrier integrity is associated with intestinal inflammatory disease, effective treatment for barrier dysfunction is lacking. Previously, we demonstrated that rebeccamycin alleviates epithelial barrier dysfunction induced by inflammatory cytokines in Caco-2 cell monolayers; however, the underlying mechanism remained unclear. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which rebeccamycin protects the epithelial barrier function of Caco-2 cells exposed to TNF-α.

Efficacy and safety evaluation of claudin-4-targeted antitumor therapy using a human and mouse cross-reactive monoclonal antibody.

Claudin-4 (CLDN-4), a tight-junction protein, is overexpressed in various malignant tumors, including gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancers. However, CLDN-4 is also expressed in normal tissues, including the liver, pancreas, kidney, and small intestine. Whether CLDN-4 is an effective and safe target for cancer therapy has been unclear owing to the lack of a binder with both CLDN-4 specificity and cross-reactivity to human and murine cells.

Generation and characterization of a human-mouse chimeric antibody against the extracellular domain of claudin-1 for cancer therapy using a mouse model.

Claudin-1 (CLDN-1), an integral transmembrane protein, is an attractive target for drug absorption, prevention of infection, and cancer therapy. Previously, we generated mouse anti-CLDN-1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and found that they enhanced epidermal absorption of a drug and prevented hepatitis C virus infection in human hepatocytes. Here, we investigated anti-tumor activity of a human-mouse chimeric IgG1, xi-3A2, from one of the anti-CLDN-1 mAbs, clone 3A2.

Checkpoint Kinase 1 Activation Enhances Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Function via Regulation of Claudin-5 Expression.

Several stressors are known to influence epithelial tight junction (TJ) integrity, but the association between DNA damage and TJ integrity remains unclear. Here we examined the effects of daunorubicin and rebeccamycin, two anti-tumor chemicals that induce DNA damage, on TJ integrity in human intestinal epithelial cells. Daunorubicin and rebeccamycin dose-dependently enhanced transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and decreased flux of the 4 kDa FITC-dextran in Caco-2 cell monolayer.

Claudin-1 Binder Enhances Epidermal Permeability in a Human Keratinocyte Model.

Tight junctions (TJs) are complex biochemical structures that seal the intercellular space and prevent the free movement of solutes across epithelial cell sheets. Modulating the TJ seal is a promising option for increasing the transdermal absorption of drugs. Within TJs, the binding of the claudin (CLDN) family of tetratransmembrane proteins through cis- and trans-interactions is an integral part of seal formation.

C-Terminal Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin-Mediated Antigen Delivery for Nasal Pneumococcal Vaccine.

Efficient vaccine delivery to mucosal tissues including mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues is essential for the development of mucosal vaccine. We previously reported that claudin-4 was highly expressed on the epithelium of nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) and thus claudin-4-targeting using C-terminal fragment of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (C-CPE) effectively delivered fused antigen to NALT and consequently induced antigen-specific immune responses. In this study, we applied the C-CPE-based vaccine delivery system to develop a nasal pneumococcal vaccine.

Anti-HCV effect of Lentinula edodes mycelia solid culture extracts and low-molecular-weight lignin.

Lentinula edodes mycelia solid culture extract (MSCE) contains several bioactive molecules, including some polyphenolic compounds, which exert immunomodulatory, antitumor, and hepatoprotective effects. In this study, we examined the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity of MSCE and low-molecular-weight lignin (LM-lignin), which is the active component responsible for the hepatoprotective effect of MSCE. Both MSCE and LM-lignin inhibited the entry of two HCV pseudovirus (HCVpv) types into Huh7.

Use of cell-based screening to identify small-molecule compounds that modulate claudin-4 expression.

Claudins constitute a family of at least 27 proteins with four transmembrane domains, and play a pivotal role in maintaining tight-junctions seals in diverse epithelial tissues. The expression of claudin-4 often changes in intestinal tissues of inflammatory bowel disease and various human cancers. Therefore, claudin-4 is a promising target for treatment of these diseases.

Discovery of anti-claudin-1 antibodies as candidate therapeutics against hepatitis C virus.

Claudin-1 (CLDN1), a known host factor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry and cell-to-cell transmission, is a target molecule for inhibiting HCV infection. We previously developed four clones of mouse anti-CLDN1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that prevented HCV infection in vitro. Two of these mAbs showed the highest antiviral activity.

Homoharringtonine increases intestinal epithelial permeability by modulating specific claudin isoforms in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

Homoharringtonine (HHT), a natural alkaloid produced by various Cephalotaxus species, has antileukemic activity in acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia. However, HHT can also induce unanticipated effects in the gastrointestinal tract, such as diarrhea and nausea/vomiting, but the mechanism behind these adverse effects has not been clarified. In the present study, we show that HHT affects the epithelial permeability of intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers.

Development of an anti-claudin-3 and -4 bispecific monoclonal antibody for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Most malignant tumors are derived from epithelium, and claudin (CLDN)-3 and CLDN-4 are frequently overexpressed in such tumors. Although antibodies have potential in cancer diagnostics and therapy, development of antibodies against CLDNs has been difficult because the extracellular domains of CLDNs are too small and there is high homology among human, rat, and mouse sequences. Here, we created a monoclonal antibody that recognizes human CLDN-3 and CLDN-4 by immunizing rats with a plasmid vector encoding human CLDN-4.

Tissue distribution and safety evaluation of a claudin-targeting molecule, the C-terminal fragment of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin.

We previously found that claudin (CL) is a potent target for cancer therapy using a CL-3 and -4-targeting molecule, namely the C-terminal fragment of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (C-CPE). Although CL-3 and -4 are expressed in various normal tissues, the safety of this CL-targeting strategy has never been investigated. Here, we evaluated the tissue distribution of C-CPE in mice.

A baculoviral display system to assay viral entry.

In this study, we evaluated a baculoviral display system for analysis of viral entry by using a recombinant adenovirus (Ad) carrying a luciferase gene and budded baculovirus (BV) that displays the adenoviral receptor, coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR). CAR-expressing B16 cells (B16-CAR cells) were infected with luciferase-expressing Ad vector in the presence of BV that expressed or lacked CAR (CAR-BV and mock-BV, respectively). Treatment with mock-BV even at doses as high as 5 µg/mL failed to attenuate the luciferase activity of B16-CAR cells.

Acute and chronic nephrotoxicity of platinum nanoparticles in mice.

Platinum nanoparticles are being utilized in various industrial applications, including in catalysis, cosmetics, and dietary supplements. Although reducing the size of the nanoparticles improves the physicochemical properties and provides useful performance characteristics, the safety of the material remains a major concern. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the biological effects of platinum particles less than 1 nm in size (snPt1).

Involvement of NANOG upregulation in malignant progression of human cells.

Previously, we isolated cell lines that display various degrees of transformed phenotypes from a single-cell population of human diploid fibroblasts (RB) containing a large deletion (13q14-22) in one copy of chromosome 13. They included a cell line transfected with SV40 early genes (RBSV), an immortalized cell line (RBI), an anchorage-independent cell line (RBS), and a tumorigenic cell line (RBT). Here, we analyzed gene expression profiles in these cell lines and showed that expression of some fibroblast-specified or mesenchyme-specified genes were downregulated, and those of stem cell-specified genes, including NANOG, were upregulated during malignant progression.

[Nature of cancer explored from the perspective of the functional evolution of proto-oncogenes].

The products of proto-oncogene play critical roles in the development or maintenance of multicellular societies in animals via strict regulatory systems. When these regulatory systems are disrupted, proto-oncogenes can become oncogenes, and thereby induce cell transformation and carcinogenesis. To understand the molecular basis for development of the regulatory system of proto-oncogenes during evolution, we screened for ancestral proto-oncogenes from the unicellular choanoflagellate Monosiga ovata (M.

A simple reporter assay for screening claudin-4 modulators.

Claudin-4, a member of a tetra-transmembrane protein family that comprises 27 members, is a key functional and structural component of the tight junction-seal in mucosal epithelium. Modulation of the claudin-4-barrier for drug absorption is now of research interest. Disruption of the claudin-4-seal occurs during inflammation.