Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yan-Jun Zong, Xiao-Zhou Liu, Lei Tu, Yu Sun
Summary: This review discusses the contribution of the connexin gene family to hearing loss, focusing on the GJB2, GJB6, and GJA1 genes. Mutations in these genes can lead to comprehensive or non-comprehensive genetic deafness in newborns. The precise regulation of connexin biosynthesis, structural composition, and degradation is crucial for proper functioning of gap junctions. This review provides insights into the etiological principles of connexin mutations and offers potential therapeutic strategies for hereditary deafness.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Rui Dong, Pin Lv, Yuqiang Han, Linhao Jiang, Zimo Wang, Liangyu Peng, Zhengliang Ma, Tianjiao Xia, Bing Zhang, Xiaoping Gu
Summary: This study found that reconfiguring the astrocytic network by increasing the expression of gap junction protein 43 (GJs-Cx43) can improve cognitive dysfunction induced by long-term isoflurane anesthesia. This improvement may be associated with the regulation of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Liangyu Peng, Shuai Liu, Jiyan Xu, Wenjia Xie, Xin Fang, Tianjiao Xia, Xiaoping Gu
Summary: Research indicates that prolonged exposure to low-concentration anesthetics may induce neuroinflammation and cognitive decline, but pretreatment with metformin can alleviate these effects.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Ying-Xin Zhao, Yi-Xi Tang, Xiao-Han Sun, Shi-Yong Zhu, Xue-Yan Dai, Xue-Nan Li, Jin-Long Li
Summary: This study utilized an in vivo model of neurotoxicity in quail to investigate the effects of DEHP exposure on astrocytes. The results revealed that DEHP exposure resulted in phosphorylation and translocation of Cx43 in astrocytes. Additionally, the study showed that DEHP exposure induced pro-inflammatory status and autophagosome formation in astrocytes. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of neurodegeneration caused by DEHP exposure and suggest a potential therapeutic target for its treatment.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Hematology
Laura Beth Payne, Bhanu P. Tewari, Logan Dunkenberger, Samantha Bond, Alyssa Savelli, Jordan Darden, Huaning Zhao, Caroline Willi, Ronak Kanodia, Rosalie Gude, Michael D. Powell, Kenneth J. Oestreich, Harald Sontheimer, Sophie Dal-Pra, John C. Chappell
Summary: This study found that a distinct lineage of pericytes emerges alongside vasculogenesis and directly communicates with nascent endothelial cells via Cx43. Loss of Cx43/Gja1 in pericyte progenitors can cause embryonic vessel dysmorphogenesis, but other connexin isoforms may compensate.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xinhai Xiong, Wenjie Chen, Cheng Chen, Qi Wu, Chaopeng He
Summary: This article summarizes the important roles of Cx43 in disease development from the perspective of subcellular localization and provides new ideas for Cx43 as a therapeutic target and the search for related pathological mechanisms.
Article
Cell Biology
Seongcheol Kim, Nicholas Knesek Kubelka, Heather M. Laporte, Vignesh R. Krishnamoorthy, Meharvan Singh
Summary: Estrogens have been shown to protect neuronal function in the presence of oxidative stress, and this protection may be mediated by the glial cells, specifically astrocytes, through the protein connexin 43 (Cx43). This study found that estradiol (E2) and the estrogenic metabolite 3 beta-diol were protective against oxidative stress in astrocytes, and this protection was dependent on estrogen receptors. However, the hormones did not affect Cx43 mRNA levels but inhibited Cx43 channel permeability. Understanding the relationship between gonadal steroids and Cx43 channels may contribute to a better understanding of sex differences in various diseases.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tatiana A. Mishchenko, Roman S. Yarkov, Mariia O. Saviuk, Mikhail Krivonosov, Alexey D. Perenkov, Sergey Gudkov, Maria V. Vedunova
Summary: Brain hypoxia is a serious issue in public health. This study focuses on the role of astroglial networks in the adaptive functional rearrangements of neural networks to oxygen deficiency. The blockade of astrocytic Cx43 gap junction leads to neuroprotective effects and restructures the functional architectonics of neuron-glial networks. These findings emphasize the crucial importance of astrocytic networks in brain adaptation to hypoxic damage and suggest a potential target for anti-hypoxic therapy.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel Rodjakovic, Lilian Salm, Guido Beldi
Summary: Recent studies have shown that Connexin-43 plays important roles in macrophages, including migration, antigen-presentation, intercellular communication, electrochemical support, and immunomodulation. Dysregulation of Cx43 has been described in diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, tumors, and HIV. However, its involvement in other macrophage functions and inflammatory processes requires further research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Renju Pun, Michael H. H. Kim, Brian J. J. North
Summary: Intercellular communication in cardiomyocytes relies on Connexin 43 (Cx43) gap junction channels and hemichannels. The phosphorylation of Cx43 at Serine-368 (S368) by Protein Kinase C (PKC) isozymes affects the function and stability of Cx43, leading to altered intercellular communication. This review highlights the molecular and cellular mechanisms of PKC-mediated Cx43 phosphorylation and discusses its implications in various cardiac diseases, as well as the potential therapeutic targets.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Xinyu Wang, Chuan Jiang, Chunli Lu, Longbing Ma, Yuxin Feng, Shengyu Cui, Qian Li, Kang Li, Xiang Wang, Fengzeng Jian
Summary: In this study, changes in the number and morphology of ependymal cilia in a syringomyelia rat model were investigated. The results showed a decline in cilia during the early stage of the disease, leading to disrupted intercellular communication. In the later stage, cilia were further reduced due to shear stress exposure, causing a potential mechanism of ependymal cilia decline in syringomyelia development.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Lan Lei, Ya-Ting Wang, Die Hu, Cong Gai, Yi Zhang
Summary: Major depression disorder (MDD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder associated with high suicide and disability rates. The pathology of MDD is related to astrocyte dysfunction, specifically the expression and function of connexin 43 (Cx43). Neuroinflammation is also a key factor in depression pathology, and Cx43 is believed to be involved in neuroinflammation-related depression. The specific mechanism of Cx43-mediated functions in neuroinflammation-related depression pathology is still unknown.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Li-Li Luo, Jian-Wu Wang, Xiao-Lan Yin, Xiao-Yong Chen, Xia-Fei Zhang, Zu-Cheng Ye
Summary: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a chronic disease caused by nervous system damage. Connexin 43 (Cx43), expressed by astrocytes, is significantly increased in NP. However, the roles and mechanisms of Cx43 in NP are still largely unknown, while microglia activation is commonly considered a key factor in NP. In this study, Cx43 deletion was found to alleviate SNI-induced NP and suppress c-Fos expression in the spinal cord. Cx43 deletion also resulted in reduced microglia activation. These findings suggest that astrocyte Cx43 may play a significant role in regulating microglial activation and NP.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Birte Schulz, Valerie Schumacher, Anaclet Ngezahayo, Daniela Maier-Begandt, Nadine Schadzek, Jochen Wilhelm, Wolfgang Weidner, Adrian Pilatz, Daniela Fietz, Sabine Kliesch, Nadine Schnepel, Nina Hambruch, Kristina Rode, Marion Langeheine, Ralph Brehm
Summary: In this study, a cell culture model consisting of human FS1 Sertoli cells and human TCam-2 seminoma-like cells was used to investigate the role of junctional proteins in seminoma progression. The results showed that Cx43, Cx45, and N-cadherin were expressed in both cell lines at mRNA and/or protein level, confirming their representativeness for Sertoli and seminoma cells.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Avital Licht-Murava, Samantha M. Meadows, Fernando Palaguachi, Soomin C. Song, Stephanie Jackvony, Yaron Bram, Constance Zhou, Robert E. Schwartz, Robert C. Froemke, Adam L. Orr, Anna G. Orr
Summary: TDP-43 pathology is prevalent in dementia, particularly in hippocampal astrocytes. Accumulation of TDP-43 in astrocytes leads to memory loss and aberrant antiviral gene expression, which is correlated with impaired astrocytic defense against viruses, resulting in cognitive impairment.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Rui Dong, Lingling Sun, Yayuan Lu, Xi Yang, Mian Peng, Zongze Zhang
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2017)
Article
Oncology
Hong Wang, Rui Dong, Wen-Wen Fan, Xing-Chang Zheng, Ai-Min Li, Wen-Di Wang
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Bin Wang, Rui Dong, Xu Lin, Xiaopeng Sun, Huailong Chen, Jiahui Zhou, Xiaoxiao Li, Mingshan Wang, Yanlin Bi
COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL NEUROLOGY
(2019)
Review
Neurosciences
Rui Dong, Hong Wang, Jishi Ye, Mingshan Wang, Yanlin Bi
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2019)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Hong Wang, Rui Dong
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Rui Dong, Pin Lv, Yuqiang Han, Linhao Jiang, Zimo Wang, Liangyu Peng, Zhengliang Ma, Tianjiao Xia, Bing Zhang, Xiaoping Gu
Summary: This study found that reconfiguring the astrocytic network by increasing the expression of gap junction protein 43 (GJs-Cx43) can improve cognitive dysfunction induced by long-term isoflurane anesthesia. This improvement may be associated with the regulation of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)