Claudin-12 (CLDN12)

Claudin-12 is an atypical tight junction protein of the claudin family, encoded by the CLDN12 gene. It is an integral membrane protein contributing to paracellular barrier function, especially in epithelial and endothelial tissues. Claudin-12 is highly expressed in specific normal tissues such as the intestine, kidney, inner ear, and bladder epithelium. Its physiological roles include regulation of paracellular calcium transport—especially as part of the vitamin D-dependent absorption pathway—and maintaining epithelial polarity. CLDN12 expression is context-dependent and dysregulated in various cancers, sometimes promoting metastasis and chemoresistance, but may also act as a tumor suppressor in other settings. It has experimental value as a potential therapeutic target to modulate barrier function and inhibit tumor cell migration or myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) trafficking, and serves as a prognostic biomarker in several malignancies[1][2][3][4][5].

Other names

Claudin-12CLDN12claudin 12claudin-12

Not established for approved drugs; experimental antibodies and inhibitory peptides shown to interfere with CLDN12 function and tumor cell migration[1][3].