Recent data indicate that the
tight junction proteins are abnormally regulated in several human
cancers and the expression of these
proteins is involved in the etiology and progression of
cancer. To explore the expression distinction of the
tight junction proteins claudin-5, -7, -8 and -9 in the adjacent non-neoplastic tissues and cervical
carcinoma tissues, 72 cervical
carcinoma tissues and the samples of non-neoplastic tissues adjacent to the
tumors were examined for expression of
claudin-5, -7, -8 and -9 by
streptavidin-perosidase immunohistochemical staining method. The positive expression rates of
claudin-5 in cervical
carcinoma tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were 31.9% (23/72) and 51.4% (37/72) respectively (P < 0.05). The positive expression rates of claudin-7 in cervical
carcinoma tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were 47.2% and 50.0% respectively (P = 1.000). The positive expression rates of
claudin-8 in cervical
carcinoma tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were 54.2 % and 27.8% respectively (P < 0.01). The positive expression rates of claudin-9 in cervical
carcinoma tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were 38.9% and 56.9% respectively (P < 0.05). Thus in our study, the expression of
claudin-5 and claudin-9 was down-regulated while the expression of
claudin-8 was up-regulated in cervical
carcinoma tissues compared with adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. The expression of claudin-7 has no obviously difference between cervical
carcinoma tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. In addition, correlations between
claudin-5, -8 and -9 expression with
lymphatic metastasis were observed. Our study reveals that the expression of
claudin-5, -8 and -9 altered between in cervical
carcinoma tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues.