Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a gap junction protein whose function in the development of breast cancer and in breast cancer progression remains unclear. Evidence suggests that Cx43 (GJA1) mRNA and protein expression is altered in breast tumors. However, reports indicate both increased and decreased Cx43 levels in human breast cancer samples. Studies also suggest that loss of Cx43 regulated gap junctio...

and intercellular gap-junction distribution Cell replacement therapy: The functional importance of myocardial architecture

We examine the threshold of the influence of the tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) on the cell-to-cell communication integrity. A deterministic model is introduced with the Michaelis-Menten dynamics and the intercellular exchange of substance. The influence of TNTs are considered as a functional perturbation of the main communication and treated as the matrix nearness problems. We analyze communicatio...

Electrical activation of the heart requires cell-cell transfer of current via gap junctions, arrays of densely packed protein channels that permit intercellular passage of ions and small molecules. Because current transfer occurs only at gap junctions, the spatial distribution and biophysical properties of gap junction channels are important determinants of the conduction properties of cardiac ...

We investigated long-lasting interactions that may occur between two forms of intercellular signaling: cholinergic synaptic transmission and gap junction-mediated coupling in the rat adrenal medulla. The junctional coupling between chromaffin cells was studied during reduced or blocked synaptic transmission in adrenal slices. First, cholinergic synaptic activity was reduced by pharmacological t...