In many people, the ingestion of ethanol produces a dose-dependent leakage of interstitial fluid from the intestinal wall into the lumen of the intestine, giving rise to diarrhea. Which of the following proteins is likely inhibited or compromised in function to produce this ethanol-induced diarrhea?

A. plakoglobin

B. claudins

C. connexin

D. cadherins

B. claudins

Explanation:

Claudins can be described as the family of proteins which are known to be the most important components of the tight junctions. This means that, the Claudins control the paracellular permeability of the tight junctions in epithelial and endothelial cells forming single cell layers.

It should be understood that, the tight junctions establish the paracellular barrier that controls the flow of molecules in the intercellular space between the cells of an epithelium.

In this case, the inhibition or a situation where the function of the Claudins are being compromised in such situation, will result to the production of ethanol-induced diarrhea.