Maternal Epidermal Growth Factor Promotes Neonatal Claudin-2 Dependent Increases in Small Intestinal Calcium Permeability

Abstract A higher concentration of calcium in breast milk than blood favours paracellular absorption enabling growth during postnatal development. We aimed to determine whether suckling animals have greater intestinal permeability maximize and identify the underlying molecular mechanism. examined claudin expression at different ages mice human epithelial (Caco-2) cells response hormones or milk. also measured wildtype, Cldn2 Cldn12 KO Caco-2 Bone mineralization was assessed by μCT. Calcium across jejunum ileum were two-fold two weeks 2 months age. At weeks, greater, but only had decreased compared wildtype. This translated bone volume, cross-sectional thickness, tissue mineral density femurs. Weaning from led a 50% decrease ileum. Epidermal factor (EGF) specifically increased CLDN2 cells. These data support calcium, conferred claudin-2, being driven EGF Loss pathway leads suboptimal life. Overall, EGF-mediated control claudin-2 contributes maximal animals.