The claudin superfamily consists of many structurally related proteins in humans. These proteins are important structural and functional components of tight junctions in paracellular transport. Claudins are located in both epithelial and endothelial cells in all tight junction-bearing tissues. Three classes of proteins are known to localize to tight junctions, including the claudins, Occludin and Junction adhesion molecule. Claudins, which consist of four transmembrane domains and two extracellular loops make up tight junction strands. Claudin expression is highly restricted to specfic regions of different tissues and may have an important role in transcellular transport through tight junctions. Claudin-5 is expressed in the endothelial junctions of the rat liver and in junctions of acinar cells of the pancreas. Human Claudin-5 is abundantly expressed in adult lung, heart and skeletal muscle and is deleted in patients with velocardiofacial syndrone, which is characterized by cleft palate, facial dysmorphology and conotruncal heart defects.
