Claudin-4 augments alveolar epithelial barrier function and is induced in acute lung injury.

Intact alveolar barrier function is associated with better outcomes in acute lung injury patients; however, the regulation of alveolar epithelial paracellular transport during lung injury has not been extensively investigated. This study was undertaken to determine whether changes in tight junction claudin expression affect alveolar epithelial barrier properties and to determine the mechanisms of altered expression. In anesthetized mice exposed to ventilator-induced lung injury, claudin-4 was specifically induced among tight junction structural proteins.