Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the barrier function of Peyer’s patches epithelium, which covers the clusters of organized lymphoid tissues in the small intestinal. We used the Ussing chamber method to determine electrophysiological characteristics of epithelium and Western blot method and immunohistochemistry to investigate expression of tight junction proteins. We revealed that Peyer’s patches epithelium, which is specialized in sampling and transporting of antigen structures, has lower conductance compare to adjacent intestinal villous epithelium, the main function of which is to uptake ions, water and nutrients. On molecular level Peyer’s patch epithelium has lower expression of claudin-2 and claudin-7, which increases the permeability of the intercellular space, and higher expression of claudin-5 and -8, which decreases the paracellular pathway. Immunohistochemistry confirmed localization of claudins in the tight junction complex. We suggest that the restriction of paracellular transport is a prerequisite for the antigen presentation through specialized M-cells in Peyer’s patches epithelium. Refs 29. Figs 4.
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