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
Oncology
Ke Gong, Qingqi Hong, Huiwen Wu, Fen Wang, Linhai Zhong, Lingjia Shen, Piao Xu, Wenqing Zhang, Hanwei Cao, Yan-yan Zhan, Tianhui Hu, Xiaoting Hong
Summary: In vivo tumor growth is characterized by a necrotic core generated by oxygen and nutrients gradients, which can also be observed in in vitro three-dimensional tumor spheroids. Gap junctions play a critical role in cancer development, and this study found that the connexin 43 (Cx43) protein reduces the area of necrotic core in colon cancer 3D spheroids, promoting tumor growth advantage. This effect is dependent on gap junction channel functions, and the enhanced glucose uptake and altered signaling pathways contribute to the increased ATP content and oxygen consumption rate. The study also revealed a heterogeneous expression pattern of Cx43 in colon cancer compared to normal tissue, and higher levels of Cx43 are associated with worse clinical outcomes. These findings suggest a novel role of connexin in tumor growth and provide insights into the metabolic needs of solid tumors.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Selma Cetin-Ferra, Sharon C. Francis, Anthonya T. Cooper, Kit Neikirk, Andrea G. Marshall, Antentor Hinton Jr, Sandra A. A. Murray
Summary: Mitochondria contain connexins that form gap junction channels, playing a role in cell-cell communication. However, connexins in mitochondria have also been found to assemble into hemichannels and may be involved in regulating mitochondrial functions such as potassium fluxes and respiration. However, the presence and function of mitochondrial connexins are still poorly understood. Understanding the significance of mitochondrial connexins and their contact sites is crucial for developing therapeutic interventions in mitochondria-related diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
Jean Defourny, Marc Thiry
Summary: Cx26 and Cx30 assemble into heteromeric gap junctions in the cochlea, facilitating K+ removal from sensory hair cells. A new study reveals tricellular adherens junctions play a critical role in connexin trafficking and membrane channel assembly.
Article
Cell Biology
Nicole M. Novielli-Kuntz, Eric R. Press, Kevin Barr, Marco A. M. Prado, Dale W. Laird
Summary: Studies on mice carrying the human disease-associated A88V Cx30 mutation revealed major morphological changes in the brain, particularly in aging mice. These changes had a more pronounced consequence for cognitive function in female mice, likely linked to the dysregulation of both Cx30 and Cx43 levels in the brain.
DISEASE MODELS & MECHANISMS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Ji Xu, Bruce J. Nicholson
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics of Cx30 hemichannels using heterologous expression systems. It was found that Cx30 hemichannels are sensitive to voltage and extracellular Ca2+ and show minimal selectivity for small ions but increased permeability for larger anions. Comparison with Cx26 gap junctions in the cochlea revealed differences in ATP permeability, indicating distinct physiological functions of Cx30 and Cx26 in energy distribution.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kajetan Kielbowski, Estera Bakinowska, Andrzej Pawlik
Summary: Connexins are involved in intercellular communication through hemichannels and gap junctions, playing a crucial role in regulating cell homeostasis, proliferation, and differentiation. Changes in Cx distribution, degradation, and post-translational modifications have been linked to cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Depending on the isoform, Cx can either promote or suppress the development of atherosclerosis by affecting endothelial dysfunction, monocyte recruitment, vascular smooth muscle cell activation, or autophagy inhibition. Inhibition or modulation of specific Cx isoforms could potentially serve as therapeutic targets in atherosclerosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Rui Dong, Yuqiang Han, Linhao Jiang, Shuai Liu, Fujun Zhang, Liangyu Peng, Zimo Wang, Zhengliang Ma, Tianjiao Xia, Xiaoping Gu
Summary: This study reveals a novel mechanism of the GJ-Cx43-mediated astrocytic network involved in isoflurane-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairments, which provides new mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of POCD and identifies potential targets for its treatment.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(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
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
Veterinary Sciences
F. A. Gomez-Torres, H. Y. Estupinan, A. Ruiz-Sauri
Summary: This study conducted a morphometric analysis of cardiac conduction cells in male horse and dog hearts, revealing significant differences in density and thickness between the two species. Additionally, the study found that the area and diameter of cardiac conduction cells were larger in horses than in dogs. Dogs also had a higher number of junctions compared to horses.
RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ivan Mizdrak, Maja Mizdrak, Anita Racetin, Braco Boskovic, Benjamin Benzon, Merica Glavina Durdov, Katarina Vukojevic, Natalija Filipovic
Summary: This study analyzed the expression pattern of connexins (Cx) 37, 40 and 45, pannexin1 (Panx1) and vimentin in squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and their correlation with tumor grade and outcome. The results showed significant differences in the expression of Cx37, Cx40, and Panx1 between cancer and normal mucosa, and between different grades. Lower Panx1 expression and higher vimentin expression were found to be prognostic factors for regional metastatic disease. Lower expression of Cx37 and Cx40 was associated with disease recurrence after follow-up.
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Azeem Danish, Robin Gedschold, Sonja Hinz, Anke C. Schiedel, Dominik Thimm, Peter Bedner, Christian Steinhauser, Christa E. Mueller
Summary: Connexin gap junctions (Cx GJs) play a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication by allowing small molecules and ions to pass between cells. Dysfunction of Cx GJs is linked to diseases, and identifying modulators of Cx GJs may lead to new therapeutic drugs. This study established a novel assay using recombinant HeLa cells expressing Cx43 to screen for GJ modulators, showing potential for high-throughput screening.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Remi Fournel, Espen Hartveit, Margaret Lin Veruki
Summary: Gap junctions between cone bipolar cells in the retina may not be strong enough to mediate effective electrical coupling, as shown by whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings in rat retinal slices. The study suggests that these junctions may play a role in chemical and/or metabolic coupling instead.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Mohammad Ali Tavallaei, Daniel Gelman, Michael Konstantine Lavdas, Allan C. Skanes, Douglas L. Jones, Jeffrey S. Bax, Maria Drangova
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ROBOTICS AND COMPUTER ASSISTED SURGERY
(2016)
Article
Neurosciences
John Ciriello, Jason M. Moreau, Aaron M. McCoy, Douglas L. Jones
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2015)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Roozbeh Aschar-Sobbi, Farzad Izaddoustdar, Adam S. Korogyi, Qiongling Wang, Gerrie P. Farman, FengHua Yang, Wallace Yang, David Dorian, Jeremy A. Simpson, Jari M. Tuomi, Douglas L. Jones, Kumaraswamy Nanthakumar, Brian Cox, Xander H. T. Wehrens, Paul Dorian, Peter H. Backx
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2015)
Article
Neurosciences
John Ciriello, Jason M. Moreau, Aaron McCoy, Douglas L. Jones
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2016)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Sara L. Bober, John Ciriello, Douglas L. Jones
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-HEART AND CIRCULATORY PHYSIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jari M. Tuomi, Anargyros Xenocostas, Douglas L. Jones
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Acoustics
Long N. Le, Douglas L. Jones
JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2018)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Gerard M. Guiraudon, Douglas L. Jones
JOURNAL OF INTERVENTIONAL CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Respiratory System
Shuai Li, Jian Ma, Jing-Bo Li, James C. Lacefield, Douglas L. Jones, Tian-Qing Peng, Meng Wei
JOURNAL OF THORACIC DISEASE
(2018)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Daniel Gelman, Allan C. Skanes, Douglas L. Jones, Michael Timofeyev, Tal Bar-on, Maria Drangova
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Cell Biology
Tana Saiyin, Anish Engineer, Elizabeth R. Greco, Mella Y. Kim, Xiangru Lu, Douglas L. Jones, Qingping Feng
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liwen Liang, Huili Li, Ting Cao, Lina Qu, Lulu Zhang, Guo-Chang Fan, Peter A. Greer, Jianmin Li, Douglas L. Jones, Tianqing Peng
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jari M. Tuomi, Loryn J. Bohne, Tristan W. Dorey, Hailey J. Jansen, Yingjie Liu, Douglas L. Jones, Robert A. Rose
Summary: The study showed that ibrutinib and acalabrutinib have distinct effects on atrial electrophysiology and ion channel function. Ibrutinib increased atrial fibrillation susceptibility and impaired sinus node function, while acalabrutinib had no such effects.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Robin J. Krishnan, Lavanya Uruthiramoorthy, Noor Jawaid, Margaret Steele, Douglas L. Jones
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL MEDICINE
(2018)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Douglas L. Jones, Sara Bober, John Ciriello