Abstract
CLCA proteins represent a large family of proteins widely expressed in mammalian tissues with a unique expression pattern for each family member analyzed so far. However, their functions in normal and diseased tissues are poorly understood. Here, we present the cellular expression pattern of mCLCA5 in murine tissues using immunohistochemistry, confocal laser scanning microscopy and immune electron microscopy with specific antibodies and RT-qPCR following laser-capture microdissection. The mCLCA5 protein was localized to granular layer keratinocytes of virtually all stratified squamous epithelia of the body. Biochemical protein characterizations revealed that the amino-terminal cleavage product is fully secreted by the cell, while the carboxy-terminal cleavage product remains associated with the cell. The results imply that mCLCA5 may play a role in maturation and keratinization of squamous epithelial cells.
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Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the German Mukoviszidose e.V. The authors acknowledge Stella R. Evans, Ph.D., who made the mCLCA5 constructs as part of her PhD dissertation research. The mCLCA3neoE7–11 mice were a kind gift from Karim Dabbagh (Roche, Palo Alto, CA, USA). Human hCLCA2-myc was a kind gift from Randolph Elble. We thank Verena Eckert-Funke for help with immune electron microscopy and Astrid Bethe for help with confocal laser scanning microscopy.
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J. Braun and M. K. Bothe contributed equally.
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Braun, J., Bothe, M.K., Mundhenk, L. et al. Murine mCLCA5 is expressed in granular layer keratinocytes of stratified epithelia. Histochem Cell Biol 133, 285–299 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-009-0667-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-009-0667-0