EpCAM is essential for maintenance of the small intestinal epithelium architecture via regulation of the expression and localization of proteins that compose adherens junctions

Chen,Guibin; Yang,Yanhong; Liu,Wanwan; Huang,Li; Yang,Lanxiang; Lei,Yuting; Wu,Huijuan; Lei,Zili; Guo,Jiao

doi:10.3892/ijmm.2020.4815

EpCAM is essential for maintenance of the small intestinal epithelium architecture via regulation of the expression and localization of proteins that compose adherens junctions

Authors:
- Guibin Chen
- Yanhong Yang
- Wanwan Liu
- Li Huang
- Lanxiang Yang
- Yuting Lei
- Huijuan Wu
- Zili Lei
- Jiao Guo
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Affiliations: Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine and Key Laboratory of Glucolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China and Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University and Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, P.R. China, The First Affiliated Hospital (School of Clinical Medicine), Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, P.R. China
Published online on: December 10, 2020 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2020.4815
Pages: 621-632
Copyright: © Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is highly expressed in mammalian intestines, and is essential for maintaining the homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium. EpCAM protein is localized at tight junctions and the basolateral membrane of the intestinal epithelium, where it interacts with many cell adhesion molecules. To explore the molecular functions of EpCAM in regulating adherens junctions in the intestinal epithelium, EpCAM knockout embryos and newborn pups were analyzed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to assess the histology of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon from wild-type and EpCAM‑/‑ mice at E18.5, P0 and P3. The expression and localization of adherens junction‑associated genes and genes that encode the proteins that participate in the assembly of adherens junctions were measured at the mRNA and protein levels using qPCR, western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that although there was no significant damage to the intestines of EpCAM‑/‑ mice at E18.5 and P0, they were significantly damaged at P3 in mutant mice. The expression of adherens junction‑associated genes in EpCAM mutant mice was normal at the mRNA level from E18.5 to P3, but their protein levels were gradually reduced and mislocalized from E18.5 to P3. The expression of nectin 1, which can regulate the assembly and adhesion activity of E‑cadherin, was also gradually reduced at both the mRNA and protein levels in the intestinal epithelium of EpCAM mutant mice from E18.5 to P3. In summary, the loss of EpCAM may cause the reduction and mislocalization of proteins that compose adherens junctions partly via the downregulation of nectin 1 in the intestines.

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