Claudin-1 is a p63 target gene with a crucial role in epithelial development.

Component of intercellular junctions, such as claudin-1, are essential to maintain the integrity of epithelial tissues. p63 is a transcription factor essential for stratification of ectoderm-derived epithelia, and is mutated in human syndromes characterized by ectodermal dysplasia, ectrodactily and cleft palate. In this experimental work we show that claudin-1 is a target of p63 in the developing epidermis, reinforcing the hypothesis that these two molecules might be linked in a commor regulatory pathway critical for the pathogenesis of ectodermal dysplasia.