Lateralization of the ventricular gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) occurs in epicardial border zone myocytes following myocardial infarction (MI) and is arrhythmogenic. Alterations in Cx43 protein partners have been hypothesized to play a role in lateralization although mechanisms by which this occurs are unknown. To examine potential mechanisms we did nuclear magnetic resonance, yeast 2...

Genetic diseases demonstrate that the normal function of CNS myelin depends on connexin32 (Cx32) and Cx47, gap junction (GJ) proteins expressed by oligodendrocytes. GJs couple oligodendrocytes and astrocytes (O/A channels) as well as astrocytes themselves (A/A channels). Because astrocytes express different connexins (Cx30 and Cx43), O/A channels must be heterotypic, whereas A/A channels may be...

Previously, we demonstrated that connexin 43 (cx43) suppressed the growth of human glioblastoma cells. To investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in tumor suppression by cx43, we developed a human cytokine array system, which simultaneously detects the expression of 43 cytokines. By using this new technology, we analyzed the cx43-regulated genes in cx43-transfected cells. The cytokine arr...

Gap junctions are composed of transmembrane proteins belonging to the connexin family. These proteins permit the exchange of mall regulatory molecules directly between cells for the control of growth, development and differentiation. Although the presence of gap junctions in teeth has been already evidenced, the involved connexins have not yet been identified in human species. Here, we examined...

PURPOSE To determine the role of connexin43 (Cx43) and gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in the response of the human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 to oxidative stress. METHODS ARPE-19 cells were treated with the chemical oxidant tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH), and cell viability was assessed by the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium br...

BACKGROUND Myocardial ischemia causes profound changes in both active membrane currents and passive electrical properties. Because these complex changes develop and progress concomitantly, it has not been possible to elucidate the relative contributions of any one component to arrhythmogenesis induced by acute ischemia. Cx43+/- mice express 50% of the normal level of connexin43 (Cx43), the majo...

Connexin43 (Cx43) is involved in bone development, but its role in adult bone homeostasis remains unknown. To overcome the postnatal lethality of Cx43 null mutation, we generated mice with selective osteoblast ablation of Cx43, obtained using a Cx43fl allele and a 2.3-kb fragment of the alpha1(I) collagen promoter to drive Cre in osteoblasts (ColCre). Conditionally osteoblast-deleted ColCre;Cx4...

Oculodentodigital dysplasia, a rare condition displaying congenital craniofacial deformities and limb abnormalities, has been associated with over 20 known human connexin43 (Cx43) mutations. The localization of two of these mutants, G21R and G138R, was examined in Cx43-positive normal rat kidney cells (NRK) and Cx43-negative gap junctional intercellular communication-deficient HeLa cells. Green...

BACKGROUND Gap junctions allow the direct exchange of ions and small molecules between cells in contact, thus coordinating physiological processes such as cell growth and differentiation. We have recently demonstrated increased expression of the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) in specific subsets of cells in atherosclerotic lesions. Because the development of atherosclerosis depends crit...

Transmigration of neutrophils through the microvascular endothelium is a cardinal event of acute inflammation. It has been suggested that gap junctions made of connexin43 (Cx43) may serve as a conducting pathway to spread inflammatory signals within the lung capillary network. To determine whether Cx43 contributes to neutrophil transmigration in vivo, the number of transmigrated neutrophils was...