Fig. 7

Role of protocadherin-1 (PCDH1) in dexamethasone (Dex)-mediated epithelial barrier integrity. b Human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells were cultured on Transwell inserts with or without Dex. The cell lysates were harvested 72 h after the culture. Western blot with the anti-PCDH1 antibody showed 150- and 170-kDa bands, corresponding to PCDH1 isoforms 1 and 2, respectively. The graph on the right shows the relative expression of PCDH1 isoforms 1 and 2 on western blots quantified by densitometry. The image and graphs represent data from two independent experiments. b PCDH1 knockdown eradicated the enhanced effect of Dex on the development of transepithelial electrical resistance (left) and reduction of dextran permeability (right) in 16HBE cells. Results are expressed as a percentage of the control value (siCtl-treated cells) and are mean ± SD values; n = 3 independent experiments. Asterisks indicate a statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in the result between that of cells treated with siCtl