Meta-analysis of CLDN expression in UC
Research Summary: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a debilitating intestinal disease with increasing morbidities over a patient’s life. Claudin protein expression (from 27 different CLDN genes) has been linked to UC progression, yet many molecular details aren’t well understood. However, it is known that claudins act cumulatively to prevent gut antigens from entering the body, regulate cell polarity, and tune intestinal ion traffic. CLDN expression is restricted to epithelial/endothelial cells and their functional properties depend on the volume and stoichiometries of all claudins produced in the tissue. Indeed, claudin-mediated barrier properties are extracellular, and therefore a tissue-wide phenomena. Our goals for this Pilot award are to identify high- impact CLDN genes and understand their role in UC pathogenesis. Having developed and tested this methodology, we next propose to develop tailored data analytic approaches that will allow replication of this approach with any other chosen gene family. This knowledge will be used as a guide to successful study design and RNAseq data processing.
