CLDN23

CLDN23

A gene on chromosome 8p23.1 that encodes claudin-23, an integral membrane protein of the claudin family, the members of which provide a physical barrier preventing solutes and water from passing freely into the interstitial space between epithelial or endothelial cell sheets; they play critical roles in maintaining cell polarity and signal transduction, as well as tight junction-specific obliteration of the intercellular space by means of a calcium-independent mechanism. Claudin-23 is expressed in germinal centre B-cells, and placental and gastric tissue.
Molecular pathology
CLDN23 is expressed in some colorectal tumours; is may be downregulated in intestinal-type gastric cancer.