Claudin 6 [MD233R]

Claudin 6, a member of the Claudin family that is expressed in epithelial cell sheets, is an intercellular adhesion molecule that develops tight junctions all around cells and controls epidermal permeability, restricting the free passage of solutes and water via cells. Downregulation of Claudin 6 has been reported in breast invasive ductal carcinoma associated with lymphatic metastasis which may point to a function of Claudin 6 as a tumor suppressor. Claudin 6 is reported to play a role in inhibiting malignancy of breast cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting proliferation and migration. Regulation of Claudin 6 expression may occur through epigenetic mechanisms. Other reports describe aberrant expression in various malignancies.