JAM1 is required for epithelial barrier function of gingival epithelial tissues.

(A, B) Schematic illustration (A) and confocal microscopic cross-sectional images (B) of 3D-tissue model expressing shLuc or shJAM1. Gingival epithelial tissues were fixed, stained with anti-JAM1 (white) and Alexa Fluor 568–conjugated phalloidin (magenta), and analyzed by confocal microscopy. Scale bars, 30 μm. (C–G) Permeability to 40 kDa FITC–dextran (C), FITC–P. gingivalis LPS (D), FITC–P. gingivalis PGN (E), FITC–E. coli LPS (F), and FITC–S. aureus PGN (G) in gingival epithelial tissues expressing shLuc and shJAM1. Results are expressed as fold change relative to epithelium expressing shLuc and are the means ± SD of seven technical replicates. *, p<0.05, one-tailed t test (C–E).