Claudin-5: gatekeeper of neurological function
Abstract
Tight junction proteins of the blood–brain barrier are vital for maintaining integrity of endothelial cells lining brain blood vessels. The presence of these protein complexes in the space between endothelial cells creates a dynamic, highly regulated and restrictive microenvironment that is vital for neural homeostasis. By limiting paracellular diffusion of material between blood and brain, tight junction proteins provide a protective barrier preventing the passage of unwanted and potentially damaging material. Simultaneously, this protective barrier hinders the therapeutic effectiveness of central nervous system acting drugs with over 95% of small molecule therapeutics unable to bypass the blood–brain barrier. At the blood–brain barrier, claudin-5 is the most enriched tight junction protein and its dysfunction has been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, neuroinflammatory disorders such as multiple sclerosis as well as psychiatric disorders including depression and schizophrenia. By regulating levels of claudin-5, it is possible to abrogate disease symptoms in many of these disorders. This review will give an overview of the blood–brain barrier and the role of tight junction complexes in maintaining blood–brain barrier integrity before focusing on the role of claudin-5 and its regulation in homeostatic and pathological conditions. We will also summarise therapeutic strategies to restore integrity of cerebral vessels by targeting tight junction protein complexes.
Keywords
Blood–brain barrier Endothelial cell Tight junction Claudin-5Introduction
Inter-endothelial connections. Located closest to the apical membrane are the tight junction proteins consisting of claudin-1, -3, -5, -12; occludin; and lipolysis-stimulated protein (LSR) which limit paracellular diffusion of ions and solutes across the tightly packed monolayer of endothelial cells. Zonula occludens (ZO)-1, -2 and -3 binds to PDZ motifs on intracellular domains of claudins and occludin and bind to the actin cytoskeleton, providing structural integrity to the tight junction. Other junctional complexes contribute to tight junction properties including junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-A, -B and -C and endothelial cell adhesion molecules (ESAM). Gap junctions such as connexin-37 and -40 form hemichannels between opposing endothelial cell membranes, contributing to intercellular communication. Located closest to the basolateral membrane are the adherens junction proteins including vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1)
Expression of claudin-5
Tissue distribution and function of claudin-5
Tissue | Function | Pathology | Observations |
---|---|---|---|
Endothelial tissue e.g. brain capillary, lung endothelium | BBB—decrease paracellular permeability | Downregulated in schizophrenia, glioblastoma, Alzheimer’s disease Hemizygous in 22q11DS | Mouse KO—post natal lethality, increased permeability < 800 Da [29] |
Peripheral lymph node | Decrease permeability | – | Claudin-5 ± mice – increased leakage and inflammation following UV exposure [32] |
Cardiomyocytes | Unknown | Downregulated in heart failure [33] | Dystrophin KO – overexpression of claudin-5 prevents cardiomyopathy [34] |
Pancreatic ductal and acinar cells | Unknown | – | – |
Retinal pigment epithelium | Changes in permeability in developing RPE | – | – |
Small/large intestine | Unknown | – | – |
Stomach epithelium | Unknown | – | – |
Seminiferous epithelium | Blood-testis barrier | – | Claudin-5 downregulation and biotin tracer leakage in Etv5 KO mice [35] |
Ovarian epithelium | Theca vascular development | Overexpression associated with aggressive, high-grade ovarian adenocarcinoma [36] | – |
Prostate | Unknown | Overexpressed in prostate adenocarcinoma [37] | – |
Structure and interactions of claudin-5
Structure of claudin-5. Claudin-5 consists of 4 transmembrane domains (TM), a short NH2 terminus, two extracellular loops (ECL), a short intracellular loop and a longer COOH terminus. ECL1 contains a disulphide bond and ion binding site as well as a highly conserved signature motif. The long COOH terminus contains the PDZ binding motif for interactions with scaffolding proteins including ZO-1, -2 and -3. Additionally, the COOH terminus contains trafficking and phosphorylation residues
(Adapted from [44])
Function of claudin-5
The paracellular sealing function of claudin-5 stems from its association with claudin proteins on neighbouring endothelial cells. Tight junctions provide one mechanism of cell to cell adhesion through their shared interactions with other tight junction strands on opposing cell membranes at so called “kissing points” to reduce the intercellular distance to almost zero. In essence, tight junctions form a mechanical link between individual endothelial cells to maintain the structural integrity of the vasculature and to prevent the diffusion of solutes and ions through the intercellular space. The result of this tight construction is a high electrical resistance of ~ 1500–2000 Ω·cm2 [51, 52]. During embryonic development between E11 and E13, there is a dramatic change in permeability in the CNS. Fenestrations, which are characteristic of leaky blood vessels, disappear and are replaced by tight junctions [53, 54]. Located apically towards the vessel lumen, tight junctions form homo- and heterotypic interactions with tight junctions on adjacent endothelial cells. Claudin-5 plays a key role in the paracellular barrier to small molecules. Transfection of claudin-5 into Caco-2 cells contributed to barrier function [55]. Exogenous expression of claudin-5 in cultured rat brain endothelial cells reduced the permeability to inulin [56]. The generation of animal knockouts has revealed the size-selective properties of claudin-5. Knockout of claudin-5 in mice allowed rapid extravasation of tracers with molecular weights < 800 Da from the intravascular compartment. Importantly, the barrier remained impermeable to microperoxidase (1.9 kDa). All claudin-5 knockout mice die within 10 h of birth. Despite this, the tight junction remains intact in knockout mice [29]. Exposure of claudin-5 heterozygous knockout mice to low dose ultraviolet radiation revealed exacerbated skin inflammation and lymphatic vessel leakage [32]. Double knockdown of claudin-5 with occludin facilitates enhanced permeation of tracer molecules between 3 and 10 kDa [57].
Regulation of claudin-5
Regulators of claudin-5 expression
Regulators | Effect on expression | Mechanism |
---|---|---|
Phosphorylation | Decrease | Thr207 PKA/PKC signalling |
VEGF | Decrease | Basolateral VEGFR2-induced downregulation via p38 |
TGF-β | Decrease | ALK signalling/MMP upregulation |
GDNF | Increase | – |
Adrenomedullin | Increase | – |
Glucocorticoid | Increase promoter activity | Glucocorticoid response elements in claudin-5 promoter |
SOX-18 | Increase promoter activity | SOX binding in claudin-5 promoter transactivate claudin-5 |
TNFα | Decrease | NFκB dependent repression |
Estrogen | Increase | Estrogen receptor/SP1 binding in claudin-5 promoter |
MMP | Degradation | – |
Fox01 | Repress transcription | Nuclear accumulation and repression of claudin-5 transcription |
cAMP | Increase cell–cell localisation | PKA-dependent and independent pathways |
SHH | Increase | SHH binding to patched releases inhibitory effect of Gli on downstream targets including claudin-5 |
VE-cadherin | Increase | Prevent Fox01/β-catenin mediated repression |
Ubiquitination | Degradation | Ubiquitination at L1999. Proteosome-mediated degradation |
CCL2 | Turnover | Caveolin-dependent removal |
Glutamate | Decrease | NMDAR-mediated-cPLA2 activation and MMP upregulation |
Autophagosome | Turnover | ECL2-dependent endocytosis |
Phosphorylation
Phosphorylation events are important in regulating claudin-5 protein expression. Several phosphorylation sites have been identified on the claudin-5 protein sequence. RhoK phosphorylates claudin-5 cytoplasmic domains at T207 leading to functional impairment of the BBB in cultured endothelial cells [58]. Forkhead box protein 01 (Fox01) is a negative regulator of claudin-5 expression. Acting in concert with β-catenin; nuclear accumulation represses claudin-5 expression. Fox01 and β-catenin bind to claudin-5 promoter regions to inactivate transcription. This process is also dependent on VE-cadherin, a positive regulator of claudin-5 expression. VE-cadherin-mediated AKT activation results in phosphorylation of Fox01 and its exclusion from the nucleus [59]. Further interrogation of this signalling pathway revealed VE-cadherin inhibits polycomb repressive complex-2 (PRC2) protein activity on the claudin-5 gene promoter and that Fox01 acts to stabilise polycomb protein binding to the claudin-5 promoter. Additionally, VE-cadherin sequesters Ezh2, a core subunit of PRC2, at the cell membrane, preventing its nuclear translocation. Inhibition of VE-cadherin sequestration of Ezh2 lead to downregulation of claudin-5 [60]. IL4 exerts a similar effect via activation of Jak/STAT6 signalling and subsequent phosphorylation of Fox01 leading to upregulation of claudin-5 [61]. Protein kinase A (PKA) signalling is a well characterised pathway regulating BBB integrity and claudin-5 levels. In brain endothelia, cyclic AMP (cAMP) enhances claudin-5 gene expression and promotes the protein presence at cell–cell contacts via PKA dependent and independent pathways resulting from phosphorylation of claudin-5 at Thr207 on the intracellular carboxyl terminal. Despite claudin-5 enhancement at cell borders upon cAMP treatment, barrier properties were diminished with reductions in TEER and increased permeability to mannitol [62, 63]. Modulation of claudin-5 expression and paracellular permeability are also affected by PI3K signalling. Mouse brain endothelial cells exposed to 3-chloropropanediol show increased expression of PI3K resulting in phosphorylation of AKT and culminating in loss of membrane association of claudin-5 to a more diffuse cytosolic pattern [64]. Furthermore, this effect was attenuated with the use of selective PI3K inhibitors. Another signalling pathway that mediates BBB impairment through claudin-5 regulation is Rho/ROCK due to phosphorylation of tyrosine residues. This process appears to be a mediator of monocyte infiltration of the CNS during HIV-1 encephalitis [65]. CCL2 or monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 regulates claudin-5 expression in cultured endothelial cells via Ser/Thr phosphorylation, a process dependent on interaction between protein kinase C alpha and Rho [66]. PKC signalling also regulates tight junction expression patterns in normoxia and hypoxic conditions. Under hypoxic conditions, loss of junctional integrity occurs via PKC signalling [67]. Phosphorylation of NFκB leads to upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) via NFκB binding to MMP9 promoter regions and subsequent degradation of claudin-5 [68]. MMPs are acutely involved in the degradation of junctional components as will be discussed below.
Growth factors
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent regulator of claudin-5 expression. VEGF-A treatment of brain microvascular endothelial cells induces downregulation of claudin-5. Local injections of VEGF-A to brain parenchyma disrupts claudin-5 expression along the vasculature and leads to extravasation of serum components [69]. VEGF-A-induced barrier dysfunction was also found to be dependent on the polarity of brain endothelial cells with parenchymal VEGF-A inducing leakage with no effect following intravenous injection in mice. Furthermore, in polarised brain microvascular endothelial cells grown on transwell filters; basolateral but not apical administration of VEGF-A induced redistribution of claudin-5 in cellular monolayers [70].
TGF-β also has a crucial role in vascular development and homeostasis. TGF-β signalling pathways regulate microvascular homeostasis through two distinct receptors; activin receptor-like kinase (ALK)-1 and ALK5. Indeed, ALK1 and ALK5 have opposing effects on microvascular stability with the ALK1 pathway promoting cellular proliferation and permeability while ALK5 inhibits permeability [71]. Activation of ALK5 signalling by TGF-β leads to downregulation of claudin-5 through SMAD2/3. Inhibition of ALK signalling with the ALK5 specific inhibitor SB-431542 rescues claudin-5 expression in embryonic endothelial stem cells [72, 73]. In the context of inflammatory pain, pharmacological inhibition of ALK5 increased the expression of claudin-5 while reducing nuclear accumulation of SMAD2/3 [74]. TGF-β mediated downregulation of claudin-5 may also result from activation of MMP9; as brain endothelial cells treated with TGF-β show MMP9 upregulation, concomitant downregulation of claudin-5 and increased permeation of FITC-dextran. Treatment with SMAD3 inhibitors attenuated this effect, reinforcing the role of ALK signalling in regulation of claudin-5 levels [75]. TGF-β has also been shown to directly modulate claudin-5 levels via phosphorylation of tyrosine residues resulting in increased permeability in human endothelial cells [76].
Other growth factor molecules have also been shown to regulate claudin-5 levels and barrier properties. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, secreted from pericytes, increased expression of claudin-5 in an in vitro human BBB model and enhanced barrier properties [77]. Adrenomedullin, a potent vasodilator and hypotensive peptide, dose dependently increases expression of claudin-5 in isolated rat brain endothelial cells while increasing TEER and decreasing flux of sodium fluorescein (376 Da) and Evans’ blue (960 Da) [78].
Transcriptional regulation
Cloning and characterisation of the murine claudin-5 promoter has identified numerous regulatory motifs including glucocorticoid response elements and NFκB binding sites that potentially regulate claudin-5 expression [79, 80]. Interestingly, E-box sequences were found in the promoter region, suggesting a role for circadian transcription factors in regulating claudin-5 levels [79]. Indeed, Per2 (a transcriptional repressor of circadian rhythms) mutant mice have increased blood-retina barrier permeability and redistribution of claudin-5 in the retinal vasculature [81]. Additionally, claudin-5 displays rhythmic expression throughout the day in normal mice but this was absent in mice with endothelial specific deletion of the clock transcription factor Bmal1 (a transcriptional activator of circadian rhythms) [82]. These studies suggest that claudin-5 may be a circadian clock-controlled gene.
TNF alpha induces vascular permeability through induction of NFκB signalling culminating in repression of mouse claudin-5 promoter activity [83]. Treatment of bovine retinal endothelial cells with IL-1β or TNFα induced permeability, downregulation and altered localisation of claudin-5 and ZO-1. Chemical or viral-mediated blockade of NFκB signalling attenuated junctional remodelling and reduced permeability [84].
The claudin-5 promoter also contains estrogen response elements that can be bound by the classical estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes ERα and ERβ to induce claudin-5 expression [85, 86]. Treatment of murine brain endothelial cells with 17 beta-estradiol increases claudin-5 promoter activity and protein expression. Administration of estrogen increases the expression of claudin-5 and occludin in ovariectomised rodents, while ERβ knockout mice have reduced levels of claudin-5 [87]. In the setting of experimental ischemic stroke, activation of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 ameliorated BBB permeability following four vessel occlusion in ovariectomised rats and restored expression levels of claudin-5 [88]. Similarly, tight junction proteins are differentially regulated by ER subtype-specific agonists in the setting of experimental stroke. Activation of ERα suppresses the reduction of occludin while activation of ERβ attenuates reductions in claudin-5 [89].
The gut microbiota is also a critical regulator of claudin-5 expression and BBB function and integrity. Lack of a normal gut microbiota in germ-free mice is associated with increased BBB permeability and decreased expression of tight junction proteins including claudin-5. Moreover, this phenotype is observed from development into adulthood suggesting that crosstalk between the brain and gut microbiota necessitates normal BBB development. Introduction of flora from pathogen-free mice with a gut microbiota to germ free mice was associated with decreased BBB permeability and increased expression of claudin-5 and occludin [90].
Turnover
Turnover of claudin-5 protein is continuous with the protein having a relatively short in vitro half-life of 90 min, yet the details of remodelling are unclear [91]. During stroke, claudin-5 is removed from the endothelium in a caveolin-dependent process [92] as well as in cultured endothelial cells treated with the cytokine CC-chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) before further processing in early but not late endosomes [93]. Ubiquitination at L199 targets claudin-5 for degradation via proteasomal pathways [91]. How tight junction remodelling occurs without loss of barrier integrity has remained elusive. A recent study may provide clues and implicates autophagy-mediated degradation of claudin-5 in the process. The presence of claudin-5 in large double membraned vesicles was confirmed in MDCK cells transfected with claudin-5 tagged with YFP and TRQ. Crossover endocytosis occurs where claudin-5 particles from adjacent endothelial cells are endocytosed into the opposing cell and trafficked to the autophagolysosome for subsequent degradation. This process was dependent on claudin–claudin interactions with amino acid substitutions in the 2nd extracellular loop impairing the process [41].
In the oxygen–glucose deprivation model of ischaemia–reperfusion, caveolin-1 mediates claudin-5 dissociation from the plasma membrane and barrier dysfunction. Inhibiting autophagy with bafilomycin A1 or 3-methyladenine attenuated claudin-5 degradation, while inhibiting nitric oxide prevented caveolin-1 translocation and claudin-5 degradation. This model further supports a role for autophagic degradation of claudin-5 in normal homeostasis and pathology [94].
Treatment of brain endothelial cells with the GSK3β inhibitor lithium chloride increases barrier properties concomitant with an increase in the amount of claudin-5 and occludin. This process was attributed to reduced protein turnover owing to increased half-life of claudin-5 and occludin [95].
Dynamic tight junction remodelling in disease
Neuroinflammation
Dynamic tight junction remodelling in disease. Breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and loss and mis-localisation of tight junction proteins leads to immune cell entry to the central nervous system (CNS). In multiple sclerosis, this results in neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and disease progression and transendothelial migration (TEM) of peripheral blood leukocytes. Claudin-5 positive extracellular vesicles (EV) can bind to blood leukocytes to potentially facilitate TEM of leukocytes into the CNS. BBB breakdown also leads to the perivascular accumulation of plasma-derived proteins such as fibrinogen, albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG) that is found in humans with temporal lobe epilepsy as well as in rodents injected with the seizure-inducing agent kainic acid. In rodents, glutamate released from neurons and astrocytes can bind to N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) on the brain endothelium and regulate tight junction proteins claudin-5 and occludin via upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Extravasation of red blood cells (RBC) following traumatic brain injury releases toxic haemoglobin and free iron culminating in generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Extravasation of fibrinogen and albumin activates microglia leading to secretion of MMP and basement membrane (BM) degeneration. Dashed boxes display the signalling pathways and molecules that regulate expression of claudin-5 and subsequent disassembly of the tight junction protein complexes that facilitates paracellular BBB permeability of blood-derived molecules
In an elegant study using high-resolution 3D confocal microscopy, Paul et al. identified a novel mechanism of leukocyte TEM potentially mediated by claudin-5 protein bridges during EAE. Leukocytes bearing claudin-5 were found in the blood and spinal cord of mice with EAE. Using eGFP:claudin-5 transgenic mice, the endothelial origin of claudin-5 positive leukocytes was determined [101]. Furthermore, extracellular vesicles (EV) from mice with EAE as well as brain endothelial cells treated with TNFα contained claudin-5 and could bind to leukocytes in vitro. These results suggest that during neuroinflammation; EVs could act as a vehicle for endothelial to leukocyte transfer of claudin-5 protein at the BBB and facilitate TEM into the CNS [101]. In support of this novel role for claudin-5, peripheral blood leukocytes isolated from patients with multiple sclerosis as well as healthy controls expressed claudin-5 with elevated levels in patients experiencing disease relapse. Additionally, anti-inflammatory treatment with glucocorticoids was accompanied by decreased leukocyte expression of claudin-5 [102]. This suggests a correlation between disease severity and claudin-5 protein expression in circulating leukocytes. These studies highlight the active role of the BBB in mediating contact between the CNS and peripheral immune system and point to a more multifaceted role for claudin-5 in regulating CNS homeostasis.
The paracellular pathway of the BBB can also be hijacked by viruses and pathogens to infiltrate the CNS. HIV-1 infection is associated with disrupted claudin-5 and occludin integrity which correlate with monocyte infiltration of the CNS [65]. In humanised mice, HIV-1 infection is associated with impaired SHH signalling, downregulated expression of claudin-5 and leakage of Evans’ blue dye while an agonist to smoothened rescues this loss [103]. Similarly, West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and death, induces loss of tight junction proteins and upregulation of MMPs in WNV-infected mice [104]. Treatment of cultured brain endothelial cells with interferon λ stabilises claudin-5 and ZO-1 localisation after WNV infection while treatment of WNV-infected mice with interferon λ restricts CNS invasion of WNV [97]. Group B streptococcus is the leading cause of neonatal meningitis and disrupts the paracellular pathway of the BBB by downregulating claudin-5, occludin and ZO-1 via upregulation of Snail1. Snail1-dependent decreases in tight junctions facilitated bacterial passage through disrupted tight junction complexes [105].
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder where immune cells including leukocytes, T cells, B cells and peripheral macrophages attack the myelin sheath surrounding axons by entering across a damaged BBB [26]. Transmigration of immune cells across the BBB is an early and prominent feature of MS models. Post-mortem studies have revealed that BBB dysfunction is an early feature of MS; confirmed by loss of tight junction proteins (claudin-5, occludin and ZO-1) in different stages of MS. Loss of tight junctions was associated with fibrinogen leakage [106, 107]. In fact, studies from human MS plaques and animal models have revealed that BBB integrity is disturbed as an early event preceding the influx of pathogenic T cells and correlates with clinical severity of EAE [108]. In vitro, treatment of mouse brain endothelial cells with serum isolated from MS patients caused downregulation of claudin-5 and occludin, upregulation of MMP9 and increased permeability; this effect could be partially rescued by glucocorticoid treatment [109].
EAE is an animal model of CNS inflammation commonly used to investigate the neurobiology and pathogenesis of MS. Loss of claudin-5 and BBB integrity occurs during early and late disease pathology with an associated reduction in total claudin-5 protein. Transmigration of leukocytes occurs primarily in the post-capillary venules and is associated with the loss of claudin-5 [26]. Moreover, by using eGFP-claudin-5+/− transgenic mice that express a fusion of eGFP to claudin-5 in endothelial cells, in conjunction with intravital two-photon microscopy; it was possible to visualise the dynamic remodelling of the tight junction at the blood-spinal cord barrier during EAE. Loss of claudin-5, characterised by increased protrusions, gaps and tortuous segments, was apparent before EAE onset and persisted throughout disease. Additionally, loss of claudin-5 was associated with transmigration of Th17 lymphocytes across the BBB and into the CNS [110]. In a rat model of EAE, administration of an antagonist of purinergic P2X receptors attenuated clinical hallmarks of the disease and rescued claudin-5 expression [111]. Expression of interferon γ appears to be protective during EAE by increasing expression of occludin and ZO-1 and increasing membrane localisation of claudin-5. However, silencing claudin-5 expression abolished interferon γ-mediated protection [112]. Restoration of junctional components, in particular claudin-5, in EAE appears to be a promising approach to preventing disease progression by attenuating TEM of immune cells. Indeed, treatment with orally available LY-317615, a small molecule inhibitor of protein kinase Cβ, ameliorates inflammation, demyelination and axonal damage through induction of claudin-1, -3, -5 and ZO-1 [113]. Treatment of mouse brain endothelial cells with LY-317615 induced the most striking changes in claudin-5 mRNA with a fivefold upregulation. In vivo, two-photon imaging revealed a reduction in FITC-dextran permeability and increased vascular claudin-5 staining suggesting that this small molecule therapeutic attenuates TEM via upregulation of tight junction protein claudin-5.
Stroke and traumatic brain injury
Rodent models have revealed that stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are characterised by a biphasic opening of the BBB with downregulation of tight junction proteins including claudin-5, occludin and ZO-1 and subsequent extravasation of serum proteins [114]. Mimicking hypoxic conditions of stroke in vitro revealed downregulation of claudin-5 and altered localisation accompanied by decreased TEER; while hypoxic conditions in the retina downregulated claudin-5 and increased the extravasation of low molecular weight tracers [115]. Elevated levels of MMPs results in fragmentation and re-localisation of claudin-5 and occludin during transient focal ischaemia following 3 h reperfusion; an effect blocked by inhibition of MMP [116]. By using sophisticated tracer experiments coupled with two-photon time-lapse imaging in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model, the dynamic events at the BBB leading to barrier deficits after stroke have been mapped. Using eGFP:claudin-5 transgenic mice to selectively visualise endothelial tight junctions, ultrastructural changes including gaps between adjacent endothelial cells and absence of tight junctions was apparent 48–58 h after stroke but not before [117]. Moreover, these changes correlated with the delayed leakage of biocytin-TMR and IgG. Earlier timepoints were however, associated with increased rates of endocytosis and transcytosis as early as 6 h after insult with minimal deficits in tight junction integrity [117]. This dynamic sequence of events at the BBB highlights the involvement of transcellular and paracellular pathways in modulating BBB permeability in the hours and days after stroke. Similar findings are apparent in the penumbral region surrounding the site of TBI. In a cortical cold-induced model of TBI, enhanced caveolin-1 expression preceded downregulation of tight junctions claudin-5 and occludin [118]. Following siRNA mediated downregulation of claudin-5 in the cold-induced model of TBI, reduced claudin-5 expression enhances the movement of water from brain to blood, reducing cerebral oedema and accelerating neurological recovery [119].
The impact of repeated head trauma in sport and military veterans is also under increasing scrutiny. In chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition arising from repetitive mild TBIs, deposition of hyperphosphorylated tau protein is associated with downregulation of claudin-5 and extensive BBB dysfunction [120, 121].
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterised by recurrent, unprovoked, spontaneous seizures. Many pathological processes are involved in the generation of spontaneous seizures, including neuroinflammation and cell loss [122]. BBB dysfunction is a hallmark pathology of many neurological conditions. Moreover, the degree of BBB dysfunction often correlates with disease severity. This is particularly true in epilepsy, where BBB dysfunction and microvascular permeability of serum macromolecules is one of the earliest events following status epilepticus [123] and the degree of BBB dysfunction correlates with seizure severity [124]. In fact, recent studies provide evidence to the hypothesis that a leaky barrier contributes to the generation of seizures, leading to more seizures which trigger further barrier dysfunction leading to epilepsy progression [124, 125, 126]. There is little understanding of the role of the tight junction in epileptogenesis or following seizure events with inconsistent findings between animal models and human samples. Following cerebroventricular injection of kainic acid (a glutamate receptor agonist that induces seizures), increased levels of claudin-5 and ZO-1 were observed in the hippocampus. This may result from the increased density of blood vessels associated with this model [127]. Another study found reduced levels of claudin-5 within 12 h of kainic acid injection with increased levels observed after 3 days. However, by 3 days, claudin-5 in the vasculature remained diffuse and mis-localised indicating disrupted junctional integrity [128]. These findings may implicate an immediate loss of BBB integrity due to downregulation of claudin-5 as a precipitating factor in the subsequent disease progression of the model. In surgically resected brain tissue from individuals with refractory drug resistant epilepsy, claudin-5 staining was diffuse and discontinuous in blood vessels [129]. Angiogenesis is a prominent feature of human temporal lobe epilepsy and dysfunction of claudin-5 in these immature and leaky vessels may facilitate immune cell infiltration and neuroinflammation associated with the condition [130]. In the pilocarpine model of epilepsy, downregulation of tight junctions claudin-1, -5, occludin and ZO-1 was accompanied by upregulation of MMP-2 and -9 while ex vivo application of glutamate to isolated capillaries was sufficient to induce tight junction downregulation and increased BBB permeability [131].
Psychiatric disorders
There is abundant evidence implicating BBB dysfunction and vascular abnormalities in psychiatric disorders [132]. Claudin-5 is also known as transmembrane protein deleted in velocardiofacial syndrome. It was originally identified as a gene deleted on chromosome 22q11.21 in a region deleted in the chromosomal abnormality 22q11.21 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), previously known as velocardiofacial syndrome [9]. 22q11DS is notable for the 30-fold increased risk of schizophrenia compared to the general population. Several studies have pinpointed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 3′ untranslated region of the claudin-5 gene that is linked to schizophrenia [133, 134, 135]. Rs10314 is a G to C base change and analysis of the effect of this SNP on claudin-5 protein levels revealed reduced levels of the C SNP following transfection into HEK cells [30]. In post-mortem specimens from individuals with schizophrenia, claudin-5 protein levels were decreased in the frontal cortex and this reduction was associated with PKA signalling [136]. Numerous research groups have pinpointed a synergistic relationship between BBB disruption and immune cell entry to the brain mediating neuroinflammatory insults and psychiatric disorders such as depression [137]. Claudin-5 has emerged as a potential mediator of these effects with several studies identifying downregulation of claudin-5 in numerous models of depression [138, 139]. Transient knockdown of claudin-5 in the nucleus accumbens is associated with exacerbated depression-like behaviours in the chronic social defeat model of depression [31]. Downregulation of claudin-5 protein coupled with stress-induced recruitment of peripheral immune signals resulted in increased BBB permeability and passage of blood proteins such as IL6 and the development of depression-like behaviours. Additionally, these effects are potentiated by drugs of abuse such as methamphetamine [140].
Pain disorders
Recent studies have highlighted the functional alterations of the BBB in relation to pain disorders, including inflammatory pain and migraine. It is hypothesised that peripheral tissue damage resulting in pain releases numerous factors that can induce BBB permeability such as IL-1β, TNF-α and histamine. Several groups have shown that acute and chronic inflammatory pain significantly alters BBB permeability and causes remodelling of tight junction components. Rats injected with formalin, γ-carrageenan or complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) to mimic acute, short-term and chronic inflammatory pain displayed elevated [C14] sucrose BBB permeability. Moreover, peripheral inflammation enhanced ZO-1 expression in all models while occludin was downregulated in short-term and chronic models [141]. Others have reported similar findings along with large increases in claudin-3 and -5 expression following chronic inflammatory pain [142]. Tight junction remodelling appears to be largely time-dependent as claudin-5 is downregulated 24 h following CFA and upregulated at 48–72 h following inflammatory pain induction. However at these timepoints claudin-5 is no longer localised to the junction and displays a more diffuse pattern of expression [143]. These effects could be abolished by nociceptive inhibition with the local anaesthetic bupivacaine [144]. Local injection of γ-carrageenan to the rat hind paw to induce peripheral inflammatory pain is associated with increased BBB permeability and increased protein expression of claudin-5 and ZO-1 and decreased levels of occludin as shown before. Pre-treatment of rats with recombinant TGF-β1 reduced BBB permeability, however its effects on tight junction integrity or oedema associated with inflammatory pain were not investigated [74].
Recent studies have also highlighted the potential link between endothelial dysfunction and migraine. Migraine is associated with elevated serum levels of claudin-5 [145]. However in a KCl-induced model of episodic headache, no changes in tight junctions were observed despite increased BBB permeability [146].
Therapeutic targeting of claudin-5
Therapeutic targeting of claudin-5 can take the form of transiently downregulating expression of the protein for a temporary and reversible size-selective increase in BBB permeability or by targeting upstream signalling components that regulate claudin-5 expression. RNA interference has been utilised in models of traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, and choroidal neovascularisation to either remove unwanted, neurotoxic material from the brain or to increase the CNS penetration of small molecule therapeutics for improved efficacy [57, 119, 147, 148]. Other techniques that have been used to specifically target claudin-5 include peptides targeting the ECLs of claudin-5. Based on this approach, it is possible to increase the size-exclusion limits of the BBB by selectively downregulating claudin-5. This approach facilitated enhanced penetration of the chemotherapy doxorubicin (580 Da) in vivo while increasing permeation of molecules up to 40 kDa in vitro [149]. These approaches are of considerable interest given the transient nature of claudin-5 downregulation and BBB modulation with levels of claudin-5 and BBB integrity returning to normal within 24 h. As mentioned in previous sections, circulating peripheral blood leukocytes were found to express claudin-5, likely derived from extracellular vesicles released by the capillary endothelium or by physical contact of leukocytes with the endothelium. In multiple sclerosis patients, treatment with glucocorticoid lowered mRNA and protein levels of claudin-5 and a significant correlation was found between increased levels of leukocyte claudin-5 protein and multiple sclerosis disease activity [102]. Glucocorticoid treatment can offer BBB protection. Progesterone and allopregnanolone reduce neuroinflammation and improve barrier function in a mouse model of ischemic stroke by downregulating MMP expression and preventing degradation of claudin-5 and occludin [150].
Outside of the CNS, claudin-5 dysfunction is implicated in numerous disorders (Table 1). Claudin-5 is severely downregulated following heart failure in post-mortem heart samples [33]. In a mouse model of cardiomyopathy and muscular dystrophy, claudin-5 levels are drastically reduced. Restoration of claudin-5 levels prevented the physiological hallmarks of cardiomyopathy and improved histological outcome. This was achieved following a single administration of a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (AAV6) containing a mouse claudin-5 expression cassette under the control of the minimal cytomegalovirus promoter to the hearts of mice with cardiomyopathy [34]. These studies highlight the therapeutic potential of restoring junctional integrity by overexpressing claudin-5.
Concluding remarks
Tight junctions are a vital component of the brain endothelium, regulating the exchange of material between blood and brain and protecting delicate neural tissue from damaging blood-borne agents such as pathogens and immune cells. This review focussed on the role of claudin-5 in maintaining paracellular integrity and its regulation in homeostatic and pathological scenarios. Claudin-5 is a highly enriched tight junction protein vital to the physical barrier properties of the BBB with its loss or disruption acutely involved in neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory and neuropsychiatric disorders. Various upstream signalling components can regulate claudin-5 levels and manipulating these pathways to modulate claudin-5 expression in response to disease is a viable therapeutic strategy. In addition, RNAi-mediated suppression of claudin-5 is a well characterised strategy to temporarily modulate BBB permeability to low molecular weight therapies in preclinical models of disease which may be useful for treating various CNS disorders. Downregulation of claudin-5 is an early and prominent feature of MS and epilepsy, suggesting that early loss of claudin-5 and breakdown of paracellular BBB integrity is an important feature of the pathogenesis of these disorders. Strategies to restore tight junction integrity should be investigated. From a functional perspective, we still do not understand all of the regulatory molecules governing claudin-5 fate. In addition, we lack a crystal structure of claudin-5 and how exactly it interacts to form tight junction strands. Furthermore, there is little understanding of the additional roles of claudin-5 beyond regulating paracellular permeability. A comprehensive understanding of claudin-5 based tight junctions and the biological systems they control will lead to novel therapeutic targets for various diseases.
Notes
Authors’ contributions
CG, NH and Mc: Wrote the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by grants from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), (12/YI/B2614 and 11/PI/1080), The Health Research Board of Ireland (HRB), the BrightFocus Foundation, and Enterprise Ireland (EI). The Campbell lab at TCD is also supported by an SFI Centres grant supported in part by a research grant from SFI under Grant number 16/RC/3948 and co-funded under the European Regional Development fund by FutureNeuro industry partners.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Availability of data and materials
None.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Funding
See acknowledgements section.
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
References
- 1.Raichle ME, Gusnard DA. Appraising the brain’s energy budget. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2002;99(16):10237–9.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 2.Muoio V, Persson PB, Sendeski MM. The neurovascular unit—concept review. Acta Physiol. 2014;210(4):790–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 3.Kreczmanski P, et al. Microvessel length density, total length, and length per neuron in five subcortical regions in schizophrenia. Acta Neuropathol. 2009;117(4):409–21.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 4.Gross PM, et al. Differences in function and structure of the capillary endothelium in gray matter, white matter and a circumventricular organ of rat brain. Blood Vessels. 1986;23(6):261–70.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- 5.Sweeney MD, et al. Blood–Brain barrier: from physiology to disease and back. Physiol Rev. 2019;99(1):21–78.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 6.Abbott NJ, Ronnback L, Hansson E. Astrocyte-endothelial interactions at the blood–brain barrier. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2006;7(1):41–53.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 7.Obermeier B, Daneman R, Ransohoff RM. Development, maintenance and disruption of the blood–brain barrier. Nat Med. 2013;19(12):1584–96.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 8.Iadecola C. The pathobiology of vascular dementia. Neuron. 2013;80(4):844–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 9.Morita K, et al. Endothelial claudin: claudin-5/Tmvcf constitutes tight junction strands in endothelial cells. J Cell Biol. 1999;147(1):185–94.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 10.Rahner C, Mitic LL, Anderson JM. Heterogeneity in expression and subcellular localization of claudins 2, 3, 4, and 5 in the rat liver, pancreas, and gut. Gastroenterology. 2001;120(2):411–22.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 11.Reyes JL, et al. The renal segmental distribution of claudins changes with development. Kidney Int. 2002;62(2):476–87.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 12.Morita K, et al. Expression of claudin-5 in dermal vascular endothelia. Exp Dermatol. 2003;12(3):289–95.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 13.Kojima S, et al. Claudin 5 is transiently expressed during the development of the retinal pigment epithelium. J Membr Biol. 2002;186(2):81–8.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 14.Louveau A, et al. Structural and functional features of central nervous system lymphatic vessels. Nature. 2015;523(7560):337–41.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 15.Baluk P, et al. Functionally specialized junctions between endothelial cells of lymphatic vessels. J Exp Med. 2007;204(10):2349–62.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 16.Daneman R, et al. The mouse blood–brain barrier transcriptome: a new resource for understanding the development and function of brain endothelial cells. PLoS ONE. 2010;5(10):e13741.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 17.Collins MM, Baumholtz AI, Ryan AK. Claudin-5 expression in the vasculature of the developing chick embryo. Gene Expr Patterns. 2012;12(3–4):123–9.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 18.Daneman R, et al. Pericytes are required for blood–brain barrier integrity during embryogenesis. Nature. 2010;468(7323):562–6.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 19.Virgintino D, et al. Immunolocalization of tight junction proteins in the adult and developing human brain. Histochem Cell Biol. 2004;122(1):51–9.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 20.Alvarez JI, et al. The Hedgehog pathway promotes blood–brain barrier integrity and CNS immune quiescence. Science. 2011;334(6063):1727–31.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 21.Armulik A, et al. Pericytes regulate the blood–brain barrier. Nature. 2010;468(7323):557–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 22.Bell RD, et al. Pericytes control key neurovascular functions and neuronal phenotype in the adult brain and during brain aging. Neuron. 2010;68(3):409–27.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 23.Hellstrom M, et al. Role of PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta in recruitment of vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes during embryonic blood vessel formation in the mouse. Development. 1999;126(14):3047–55.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- 24.Chen J, et al. CD146 coordinates brain endothelial cell-pericyte communication for blood–brain barrier development. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2017;114:E7622–31.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 25.Daneman R, et al. Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is required for CNS, but not non-CNS, angiogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2009;106(2):641–6.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 26.Paul D, et al. Novel 3D analysis of Claudin-5 reveals significant endothelial heterogeneity among CNS microvessels. Microvasc Res. 2013;86:1–10.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 27.Ohtsuki S, et al. mRNA expression levels of tight junction protein genes in mouse brain capillary endothelial cells highly purified by magnetic cell sorting. J Neurochem. 2008;104(1):147–54.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- 28.Suzuki H, et al. Crystal structure of a claudin provides insight into the architecture of tight junctions. Science. 2014;344(6181):304–7.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 29.Nitta T, et al. Size-selective loosening of the blood–brain barrier in claudin-5-deficient mice. J Cell Biol. 2003;161(3):653–60.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 30.Greene C, et al. Dose-dependent expression of claudin-5 is a modifying factor in schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry. 2017;23(11):2156–66.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 31.Menard C, et al. Social stress induces neurovascular pathology promoting depression. Nat Neurosci. 2017;20(12):1752–60.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 32.Matsumoto-Okazaki Y, Furuse M, Kajiya K. Claudin-5 haploinsufficiency exacerbates UVB-induced oedema formation by inducing lymphatic vessel leakage. Exp Dermatol. 2012;21(7):557–9.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 33.Swager SA, et al. Claudin-5 levels are reduced from multiple cell types in human failing hearts and are associated with mislocalization of ephrin-B1. Cardiovasc Pathol. 2015;24(3):160–7.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 34.Delfín DA, et al. Sustaining cardiac claudin-5 levels prevents functional hallmarks of cardiomyopathy in a muscular dystrophy mouse model. Mol Ther. 2012;20(7):1378–83.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 35.Morrow CM, et al. Claudin 5 expression in mouse seminiferous epithelium is dependent upon the transcription factor ets variant 5 and contributes to blood-testis barrier function. Biol Reprod. 2009;81(5):871–9.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 36.Turunen M, et al. Claudin-5 overexpression correlates with aggressive behavior in serous ovarian adenocarcinoma. Anticancer Res. 2009;29(12):5185–9.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- 37.Coutinho-Camillo CM, et al. Claudin expression is dysregulated in prostate adenocarcinomas but does not correlate with main clinicopathological parameters. Pathology. 2011;43(2):143–8.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 38.Wen H, et al. Selective decrease in paracellular conductance of tight junctions: role of the first extracellular domain of claudin-5. Mol Cell Biol. 2004;24(19):8408–17.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 39.Piontek J, et al. Formation of tight junction: determinants of homophilic interaction between classic claudins. FASEB J. 2008;22(1):146–58.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 40.Rossa J, et al. Claudin-3 and claudin-5 protein folding and assembly into the tight junction are controlled by non-conserved residues in the transmembrane 3 (TM3) and extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) segments. J Biol Chem. 2014;289(11):7641–53.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 41.Gehne N, et al. Cross-over endocytosis of claudins is mediated by interactions via their extracellular loops. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(8):e0182106.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 42.Blasig IE, et al. On the self-association potential of transmembrane tight junction proteins. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2006;63(4):505–14.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
- 43.Furuse M, Sasaki H, Tsukita S. Manner of interaction of heterogeneous claudin species within and between tight junction strands. J Cell Biol. 1999;147(4):891–903.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 44.Krause G, et al. Structure and function of claudins. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008;1778(3):631–45.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
- 45.Krause G, et al. Structure and function of extracellular claudin domains. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009;1165:34–43.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 46.Osada T, et al. Interendothelial claudin-5 expression depends on cerebral endothelial cell-matrix adhesion by β(1)-integrins. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2011;31(10):1972–85.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 47.Itoh M, et al. Direct binding of three tight junction-associated MAGUKs, ZO-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3, with the COOH termini of claudins. J Cell Biol. 1999;147(6):1351–63.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 48.Luissint A-C, et al. Guanine nucleotide-binding protein Gαi2: a new partner of claudin-5 that regulates tight junction integrity in human brain endothelial cells. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2012;32(5):860–73.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 49.Ruffer C, Gerke V. The C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of claudins 1 and 5 but not its PDZ-binding motif is required for apical localization at epithelial and endothelial tight junctions. Eur J Cell Biol. 2004;83(4):135–44.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 50.Liao Z, et al. Specific binding of a mutated fragment of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin to endothelial claudin-5 and its modulation of cerebral vascular permeability. Neuroscience. 2016;327:53–63.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 51.Abbott NJ, et al. Structure and function of the blood–brain barrier. Neurobiol Dis. 2010;37(1):13–25.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 52.Butt AM, Jones HC, Abbott NJ. Electrical resistance across the blood–brain barrier in anaesthetized rats: a developmental study. J Physiol. 1990;429:47–62.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 53.Wolburg H, Lippoldt A. Tight junctions of the blood–brain barrier: development, composition and regulation. Vasc Pharmacol. 2002;38(6):323–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 54.Bauer HC, et al. Neovascularization and the appearance of morphological characteristics of the blood–brain barrier in the embryonic mouse central nervous system. Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 1993;75(2):269–78.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 55.Amasheh S, et al. Contribution of claudin-5 to barrier properties in tight junctions of epithelial cells. Cell Tissue Res. 2005;321(1):89–96.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 56.Ohtsuki S, et al. Exogenous expression of claudin-5 induces barrier properties in cultured rat brain capillary endothelial cells. J Cell Physiol. 2007;210(1):81–6.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 57.Keaney J, et al. Autoregulated paracellular clearance of amyloid-beta across the blood–brain barrier. Sci Adv. 2015;1(8):e1500472.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 58.Yamamoto M, et al. Phosphorylation of claudin-5 and occludin by rho kinase in brain endothelial cells. Am J Pathol. 2008;172(2):521–33.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 59.Taddei A, et al. Endothelial adherens junctions control tight junctions by VE-cadherin-mediated upregulation of claudin-5. Nat Cell Biol. 2008;10(8):923–34.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 60.Morini MF, et al. VE-cadherin-mediated epigenetic regulation of endothelial gene expression. Circ Res. 2018;122(2):231–45.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
- 61.Dalmasso AP, et al. Interleukin-4 induces up-regulation of endothelial cell claudin-5 through activation of FoxO1: role in protection from complement-mediated injury. J Biol Chem. 2014;289(2):838–47.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 62.Ishizaki T, et al. Cyclic AMP induces phosphorylation of claudin-5 immunoprecipitates and expression of claudin-5 gene in blood–brain-barrier endothelial cells via protein kinase A-dependent and -independent pathways. Exp Cell Res. 2003;290(2):275–88.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 63.Soma T, et al. Thr(207) of claudin-5 is involved in size-selective loosening of the endothelial barrier by cyclic AMP. Exp Cell Res. 2004;300(1):202–12.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 64.Camire RB, et al. Biphasic modulation of paracellular claudin-5 expression in mouse brain endothelial cells is mediated through the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/AKT pathway. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2014;351(3):654–62.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 65.Persidsky Y, et al. Rho-mediated regulation of tight junctions during monocyte migration across the blood–brain barrier in HIV-1 encephalitis (HIVE). Blood. 2006;107(12):4770–80.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 66.Stamatovic SM, et al. Protein kinase Calpha-RhoA cross-talk in CCL2-induced alterations in brain endothelial permeability. J Biol Chem. 2006;281(13):8379–88.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 67.Willis CL, Meske DS, Davis TP. Protein kinase C activation modulates reversible increase in cortical blood–brain barrier permeability and tight junction protein expression during hypoxia and posthypoxic reoxygenation. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2010;30(11):1847–59.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 68.Chiu P-S, Lai S-C. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 leads to claudin-5 degradation via the NF-κB pathway in BALB/c mice with eosinophilic meningoencephalitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(3):e53370.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 69.Argaw AT, et al. VEGF-mediated disruption of endothelial CLN-5 promotes blood–brain barrier breakdown. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2009;106(6):1977–82.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 70.Hudson N, et al. Differential apicobasal VEGF signaling at vascular blood-neural barriers. Dev Cell. 2014;30(5):541–52.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 71.Wu X, et al. Distinct regulation of gene expression in human endothelial cells by TGF-beta and its receptors. Microvasc Res. 2006;71(1):12–9.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 72.Watabe T, et al. TGF-beta receptor kinase inhibitor enhances growth and integrity of embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial cells. J Cell Biol. 2003;163(6):1303–11.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 73.Ota T, et al. Targets of transcriptional regulation by two distinct type I receptors for transforming growth factor-beta in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. J Cell Physiol. 2002;193(3):299–318.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 74.Ronaldson PT, et al. Transforming growth factor-beta signaling alters substrate permeability and tight junction protein expression at the blood–brain barrier during inflammatory pain. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2009;29(6):1084–98.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 75.McMillin MA, et al. TGFβ1 exacerbates blood–brain barrier permeability in a mouse model of hepatic encephalopathy via upregulation of MMP9 and downregulation of claudin-5. Lab Invest. 2015;95(8):903–13.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 76.Shen W, et al. Tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-cadherin and claudin-5 is associated with TGF-beta1-induced permeability of centrally derived vascular endothelium. Eur J Cell Biol. 2011;90(4):323–32.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 77.Shimizu F, et al. Pericyte-derived glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor increase the expression of claudin-5 in the blood–brain barrier and the blood-nerve barrier. Neurochem Res. 2012;37(2):401–9.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 78.Honda M, et al. Adrenomedullin improves the blood–brain barrier function through the expression of claudin-5. Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2006;26(2):109–18.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 79.Burek M, Forster CY. Cloning and characterization of the murine claudin-5 promoter. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2009;298(1–2):19–24.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 80.Fontijn RD, et al. SOX-18 controls endothelial-specific claudin-5 gene expression and barrier function. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2008;294(2):H891–900.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 81.Bhatwadekar AD, et al. Per2 mutation recapitulates the vascular phenotype of diabetes in the retina and bone marrow. Diabetes. 2013;62(1):273–82.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 82.Westgate EJ, et al. Genetic components of the circadian clock regulate thrombogenesis in vivo. Circulation. 2008;117(16):2087–95.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 83.Aslam M, et al. TNF-alpha induced NFkappaB signaling and p65 (RelA) overexpression repress Cldn5 promoter in mouse brain endothelial cells. Cytokine. 2012;57(2):269–75.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 84.Aveleira CA, et al. TNF-α signals through PKCζ/NF-κB to alter the tight junction complex and increase retinal endothelial cell permeability. Diabetes. 2010;59(11):2872–82.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 85.Burek M, Steinberg K, Forster CY. Mechanisms of transcriptional activation of the mouse claudin-5 promoter by estrogen receptor alpha and beta. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2014;392(1–2):144–51.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 86.Sandoval KE, Witt KA. Age and 17beta-estradiol effects on blood–brain barrier tight junction and estrogen receptor proteins in ovariectomized rats. Microvasc Res. 2011;81(2):198–205.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 87.Burek M, et al. Claudin-5 as a novel estrogen target in vascular endothelium. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010;30(2):298–304.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 88.Lu D, et al. Activation of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER-1) ameliorates blood–brain barrier permeability after global cerebral ischemia in ovariectomized rats. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2016;477(2):209–14.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 89.Shin JA, et al. Activation of classical estrogen receptor subtypes reduces tight junction disruption of brain endothelial cells under ischemia/reperfusion injury. Free Radic Biol Med. 2016;92:78–89.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 90.Braniste V, et al. The gut microbiota influences blood–brain barrier permeability in mice. Sci Transl Med. 2014;6(263):263ra158.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 91.Mandel I, et al. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway regulates claudin 5 degradation. J Cell Biochem. 2012;113(7):2415–23.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 92.Liu J, et al. Matrix metalloproteinase-2-mediated occludin degradation and caveolin-1-mediated claudin-5 redistribution contribute to blood–brain barrier damage in early ischemic stroke stage. J Neurosci. 2012;32(9):3044–57.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 93.Stamatovic SM, et al. Caveolae-mediated internalization of occludin and claudin-5 during CCL2-induced tight junction remodeling in brain endothelial cells. J Biol Chem. 2009;284(28):19053–66.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 94.Liu J, et al. Nitric Oxide interacts with caveolin-1 to facilitate autophagy-lysosome-mediated claudin-5 degradation in oxygen-glucose deprivation-treated endothelial Cells. Mol Neurobiol. 2016;53(9):5935–47.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 95.Ramirez SH, et al. Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta promotes tight junction stability in brain endothelial cells by half-life extension of occludin and claudin-5. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(2):e55972.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 96.Zlokovic BV. The blood–brain barrier in health and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Neuron. 2008;57(2):178–201.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 97.Lazear HM, et al. Interferon-λ restricts West Nile virus neuroinvasion by tightening the blood–brain barrier. Sci Transl Med. 2015;7(284):284ra59.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 98.Camire RB, Beaulac HJ, Willis CL. Transitory loss of glia and the subsequent modulation in inflammatory cytokines/chemokines regulate paracellular claudin-5 expression in endothelial cells. J Neuroimmunol. 2015;284:57–66.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 99.Nimmerjahn A, Kirchhoff F, Helmchen F. Resting microglial cells are highly dynamic surveillants of brain parenchyma in vivo. Science. 2005;308(5726):1314–8.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 100.Winger RC, et al. Rapid remodeling of tight junctions during paracellular diapedesis in a human model of the blood–brain barrier. J Immunol. 2014;193(5):2427–37.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 101.Paul D, et al. Appearance of claudin-5(+) leukocytes in the central nervous system during neuroinflammation: a novel role for endothelial-derived extracellular vesicles. J Neuroinflamm. 2016;13(1):292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 102.Mandel I, et al. Tight junction proteins expression and modulation in immune cells and multiple sclerosis. J Cell Mol Med. 2012;16(4):765–75.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 103.Singh VB, et al. Smoothened agonist reduces human immunodeficiency virus type-1-induced blood–brain barrier breakdown in humanized mice. Scientific reports. 2016;6:26876.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 104.Roe K, et al. West Nile virus-induced disruption of the blood–brain barrier in mice is characterized by the degradation of the junctional complex proteins and increase in multiple matrix metalloproteinases. J Gen Virol. 2012;93(Pt 6):1193–203.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 105.Kim BJ, et al. Bacterial induction of Snail1 contributes to blood–brain barrier disruption. J Clin Invest. 2015;125(6):2473–83.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 106.Alvarez JI, Cayrol R, Prat A. Disruption of central nervous system barriers in multiple sclerosis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2011;1812(2):252–64.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 107.Alvarez JI, et al. Focal disturbances in the blood–brain barrier are associated with formation of neuroinflammatory lesions. Neurobiol Dis. 2015;74:14–24.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 108.Bennett J, et al. Blood–brain barrier disruption and enhanced vascular permeability in the multiple sclerosis model EAE. J Neuroimmunol. 2010;229(1–2):180–91.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 109.Blecharz KG, et al. Glucocorticoid effects on endothelial barrier function in the murine brain endothelial cell line cEND incubated with sera from patients with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler J. 2010;16(3):293–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 110.Lutz SE, et al. Caveolin1 Is required for Th1 cell infiltration, but not tight junction remodeling, at the blood–brain barrier in autoimmune neuroinflammation. Cell Rep. 2017;21(8):2104–17.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 111.Grygorowicz T, Dabrowska-Bouta B, Struzynska L. Administration of an antagonist of P2X7 receptor to EAE rats prevents a decrease of expression of claudin-5 in cerebral capillaries. Purinergic Signal. 2018;8:1–9.Google Scholar
- 112.Ni C, et al. Interferon-gamma safeguards blood–brain barrier during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Am J Pathol. 2014;184(12):3308–20.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 113.Lanz TV, et al. Protein kinase Cβ as a therapeutic target stabilizing blood–brain barrier disruption in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2013;110(36):14735–40.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 114.Baskaya MK, et al. The biphasic opening of the blood–brain barrier in the cortex and hippocampus after traumatic brain injury in rats. Neurosci Lett. 1997;226(1):33–6.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 115.Koto T, et al. Hypoxia disrupts the barrier function of neural blood vessels through changes in the expression of claudin-5 in endothelial cells. Am J Pathol. 2007;170(4):1389–97.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 116.Yang Y, et al. Matrix metalloproteinase-mediated disruption of tight junction proteins in cerebral vessels is reversed by synthetic matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor in focal ischemia in rat. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2007;27(4):697–709.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 117.Knowland D, et al. Stepwise recruitment of transcellular and paracellular pathways underlies blood–brain barrier breakdown in stroke. Neuron. 2014;82(3):603–17.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 118.Nag S, Venugopalan R, Stewart DJ. Increased caveolin-1 expression precedes decreased expression of occludin and claudin-5 during blood–brain barrier breakdown. Acta Neuropathol. 2007;114(5):459–69.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 119.Campbell M, et al. Targeted suppression of claudin-5 decreases cerebral oedema and improves cognitive outcome following traumatic brain injury. Nat Commun. 2012;3:849.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 120.Doherty CP, et al. Blood–brain barrier dysfunction as a hallmark pathology in chronic traumatic encephalopathy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2016;75(7):656–62.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 121.Farrell M, et al. Blood–brain barrier dysfunction in a boxer with chronic traumatic encephalopathy and schizophrenia. Clin Neuropathol. 2018. https://doi.org/10.5414/NP301130.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
- 122.Henshall DC, et al. MicroRNAs in epilepsy: pathophysiology and clinical utility. Lancet Neurol. 2016;15(13):1368–76.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 123.Friedman A. Blood–brain barrier dysfunction, status epilepticus, seizures and epilepsy: a puzzle of a chicken and egg? Epilepsia. 2011;52(Suppl 8):19–20.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 124.van Vliet EA, et al. Blood–brain barrier leakage may lead to progression of temporal lobe epilepsy. Brain. 2007;130(Pt 2):521–34.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 125.Marchi N, et al. Seizure-promoting effect of blood–brain barrier disruption. Epilepsia. 2007;48(4):732–42.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 126.Seiffert E, et al. Lasting blood–brain barrier disruption induces epileptic focus in the rat somatosensory cortex. J Neurosci. 2004;24(36):7829–36.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 127.Yan BC, et al. Changes in the blood–brain barrier function are associated with hippocampal neuron death in a kainic acid mouse model of epilepsy. Frontiers in neurology. 2018;9:775.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 128.Kim JY, et al. ETB receptor-mediated MMP-9 activation induces vasogenic edema via ZO-1 protein degradation following status epilepticus. Neuroscience. 2015;304:355–67.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 129.Liu JY, et al. Neuropathology of the blood–brain barrier and pharmaco-resistance in human epilepsy. Brain. 2012;135(Pt 10):3115–33.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 130.Rigau V, et al. Angiogenesis is associated with blood–brain barrier permeability in temporal lobe epilepsy. Brain. 2007;130(Pt 7):1942–56.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 131.Rempe RG, et al. Matrix metalloproteinase-mediated blood–brain barrier dysfunction in epilepsy. J Neurosci. 2018;38(18):4301–15.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 132.Kealy J, Greene C, Campbell M. Blood-brain barrier regulation in psychiatric disorders. Neurosci Lett. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2018.06.033.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
- 133.Sun ZY, et al. The CLDN5 locus may be involved in the vulnerability to schizophrenia. Eur Psychiatry. 2004;19(6):354–7.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 134.Wu N, et al. A weak association of the CLDN5 locus with schizophrenia in Chinese case-control samples. Psychiatry Res. 2010;178(1):223.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 135.Ye L, et al. Further study of a genetic association between the CLDN5 locus and schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2005;75(1):139–41.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 136.Nishiura K, et al. PKA activation and endothelial claudin-5 breakdown in the schizophrenic prefrontal cortex. Oncotarget. 2017;8(55):93382–91.PubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
- 137.Schachtrup C, et al. Fibrinogen inhibits neurite outgrowth via beta 3 integrin-mediated phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2007;104(28):11814–9.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 138.Santha P, et al. Restraint stress-induced morphological changes at the blood–brain barrier in adult rats. Front Mol Neurosci. 2015;8:88.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- 139.Lee S, et al. Real-time in vivo two-photon imaging study reveals decreased cerebro-vascular volume and increased blood–brain barrier permeability in chronically stressed mice. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):13064.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 140.Northrop NA, Yamamoto BK. Persistent neuroinflammatory effects of serial exposure to stress and methamphetamine on the blood–brain barrier. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2012;7(4):951–68.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 141.Huber JD, et al. Inflammatory pain alters blood–brain barrier permeability and tight junctional protein expression. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2001;280(3):H1241–8.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 142.Brooks TA, et al. Chronic inflammatory pain leads to increased blood–brain barrier permeability and tight junction protein alterations. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2005;289(2):H738–43.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 143.Brooks TA, et al. Biphasic cytoarchitecture and functional changes in the BBB induced by chronic inflammatory pain. Brain Res. 2006;1120(1):172–82.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 144.Campos CR, et al. Nociceptive inhibition prevents inflammatory pain induced changes in the blood–brain barrier. Brain Res. 2008;1221:6–13.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 145.Yucel M, et al. Serum levels of endocan, claudin-5 and cytokines in migraine. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2016;20(5):930–6.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- 146.Cottier KE, et al. Loss of blood–brain barrier integrity in a KCl-induced model of episodic headache enhances CNS drug delivery. eNeuro. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0116-18.2018.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
- 147.Campbell M, et al. An experimental platform for systemic drug delivery to the retina. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2009;106(42):17817–22.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 148.Greene C, Campbell M. Tight junction modulation of the blood brain barrier: CNS delivery of small molecules. Tissue Barriers. 2016;4(1):e1138017.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 149.Dithmer S, et al. Claudin peptidomimetics modulate tissue barriers for enhanced drug delivery. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017;1397(1):169–84.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 150.Ishrat T, et al. Progesterone and allopregnanolone attenuate blood–brain barrier dysfunction following permanent focal ischemia by regulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinases. Exp Neurol. 2010;226(1):183–90.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Copyright information
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.