Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided an agent that transiently disrupts claudin-1 within tight junctions. The agent includes a peptide having at least 40% polar, uncharged amino acid residues and a self-assembled ?-sheet secondary structure. According to aspects illustrated herein, there is also provided a transepithelial drug and vaccine formulations, as well as isolated peptides, pharmaceutical compositions, and transdermal delivery devices. Also described herein are methods of disrupting epithelial barrier and methods of administering the transepithelial formulations described herein.

Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided an agent that transiently disrupts claudin-1 within tight junctions. The agent includes a peptide having at least 40% polar, uncharged amino acid residues and a self-assembled ?-sheet secondary structure. According to aspects illustrated herein, there is also provided a transepithelial drug and vaccine formulations, as well as isolated peptides, pharmaceutical compositions, and transdermal delivery devices. Also described herein are methods of disrupting epithelial barrier and methods of administering the transepithelial formulations described herein.

Abstract: This invention relates to a transdermal drug formulation that includes a pharmaceutically suitable carrier; an effective amount of a therapeutic agent; and a histamine type 4 receptor (“H4R”) agonist, as well as a transdermal vaccine formulation that includes a pharmaceutically suitable carrier; an effective amount of an antigen or antigen-encoding nucleic acid molecule present in the carrier, and optionally one or more adjuvants; and an H4R agonist. The present invention also relates to transdermal delivery device including such formulations and methods of administering such formulations. The present invention also relates to methods of enhancing epithelial barrier formation in a patient involving administering to the patient at a site of epithelial disruption an amount of a formulation that comprises an H4R antagonist.

Abstract: An epidermal sample is placed into a sample holder formed as a sandwich assembly. The sample holder is placed in an upper well within a lower well to be exposed to media in both wells. Properties of the sample can be studied, such as paracellular flux, transepidermal electric resistance, reaction to compounds, and epidermal barrier recovery.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of agents that modulate claudin-1 and/or -23 expression or activity for purposes of regulating tight junction (“TJ”) formation among keratinocytes that express claudin-1 and/or -23, or other cell types that over- or under-express claudin-1 and/or -23. Several aspects of the present invention relate to increasing claudin-1 and/or -23 expression or function to enhance tight junction formation among claudin-1 and/or -23 expressing cells, particularly keratinocyte and antigen presenting cells. Several other aspects of the invention relate to decreasing claudin-1 and/or -23 expression or function to diminish tight junction formation among claudin-1 and/or -23 expressing cells, particularly keratinocytes and antigen presenting cells.

Abstract: Methods are provided for modulating expression of claudin-1 and/or claudin-23, for purposes of regulating formation of tight junctions in keratinocytes or other types of cells such as antigen presenting cells (e.g., dendritic cells and Langertians cells), by either increasing or decreasing expression of claudin-1 and/or claudin-23. Also provided are transdermal formulations that decrease expression of claudin-1 and/or claudin-23, thereby diminishing tight junction formation in cells expressing claudin-1 and/or claudin-23, as well as a transdermal patch for delivering the same.