Altered expression and localization of the tight junction protein ZO-1 after common bile duct ligation

The intercellular barrier between bile and blood is created by the hepatocyte tight junctions. Structural changes in the tight junction (TJ) and an easily observable paracellular leak is caused by common bile duct (CBDL) cholestasis. The influence of CBDL on ZO-1alpha+ immunofluorescence (IF) localization and a ZO-1alpha+ mRNA, and protein expression during 2 weeks of CBDL are studied by the use of the epithelial isoform of the TJ protein ZO-1alpha+ as a monomolecular changes masker in hepatocyte TJs. A considerable increase in the levels of hepatic ZO-1alpha+ mRNA levels is revealed by the quantitative immunoblotting and ribonuclease protection respectively.