Article
Biology
Filippo Torrisi, Cristiana Alberghina, Debora Lo Furno, Agata Zappala, Samuel Valable, Giovanni Li Volti, Daniele Tibullo, Nunzio Vicario, Rosalba Parenti
Summary: Manipulating the sonic hedgehog pathway to affect connexin 43 expression can regulate cell migration and proliferation in glioblastoma, potentially offering a new therapeutic strategy.
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
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Max Zachrisson Totland, Yasufumi Omori, Vigdis Sorensen, Kushtrim Kryeziu, Trond Aasen, Andreas Brech, Edward Leithe
Summary: Gap junctions are clusters of channels in the plasma membrane that enable the diffusion of ions and small molecules between adjacent cells, playing a fundamental role in coordinating tissue functions. The loss of intercellular communication mediated by gap junctions, often observed in cancer pathogenesis, can impact tumor growth and response to treatment. Connexins, integral membrane proteins, not only facilitate cell-cell communication but also modulate signal transduction pathways, cell processes, and the dynamic regulation of gap junction levels. Dysregulation of connexin trafficking in the endocytic system contributes to the loss of gap junctions during carcinogenesis, with potential therapeutic implications in cancer treatment.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Weiqi Zeng, Zhizhao Deng, Yingxin Gao, Guoliang Sun, Xianlong Li, Dongdong Yuan
Summary: Long-term exposure to Ang II significantly enhances the expression and function of Cx43-GJs in HUASMCs, leading to the accumulation of intracellular Ca2+ and the activation of downstream signaling pathways. However, propofol inhibits the function of Cx43-GJs in Ang II-pretreated HUASMCs, resulting in the inhibition of intracellular Ca2+ and its downstream signaling pathways and ultimately excessive relaxation of HUASMCs. This explains why patients with chronic hypertension experience more severe blood pressure fluctuations after propofol induction.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Huiqin Wang, Xueying Yang, Huaqing Lai, Yang Sun, Xu Yan, Qidi Ai, Meiyu Lin, Songwei Yang, Yantao Yang, Shifeng Chu, Zhenzhen Wang, Naihong Chen
Summary: Hypericin repaired the dysfunction of gap junctions in the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) rat model of depression. While hypericin showed potential for treating depression in in vivo experiments, it failed to demonstrate antidepressant benefits in cell experiments. This study suggests that gap junctional function may be a novel therapeutic target for hypericin in the treatment of depression.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Aya Yamada, Keigo Yoshizaki, Masaki Ishikawa, Kan Saito, Yuta Chiba, Emiko Fukumoto, Ryoko Hino, Seira Hoshikawa, Mitsuki Chiba, Takashi Nakamura, Tsutomu Iwamoto, Satoshi Fukumoto
Summary: Connexin 43 (Cx43) is an integral membrane protein that plays a crucial role in tooth development, regulating intercellular communication through gap junction activity by modulating TGF-beta 1-mediated ERK signaling and enamel formation.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
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
Biology
Chao Qi, Silvia Acosta Gutierrez, Pia Lavriha, Alaa Othman, Diego Lopez-Pigozzi, Erva Bayraktar, Dina Schuster, Paola Picotti, Nicola Zamboni, Mario Bortolozzi, Francesco Luigi Gervasio, Volodymyr M. Korkhov
Summary: In this study, the structure of a human Cx43 GJC was determined using cryo-EM and single particle analysis. The pore region of Cx43 GJC was found to have lipid-like densities, and a previously undescribed conformation was discovered on the cytosolic side of the pore. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the channel properties of Cx43. The captured states of Cx43 were consistent with a closed state.
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
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Wen Yi Lim, Leigh Edward Madden, David Laurence Becker
Summary: This study observed an upregulation of Cx43 throughout the pulpal stroma as inflammation worsened in both human and rodent models. Elevated levels of neutrophils were present in advanced pulpitis. In human samples, apoptosis and necroptosis appeared to be upregulated as Cx43 levels rose.
CLINICAL ORAL INVESTIGATIONS
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Stefan Dhein, Aida Salameh
Summary: The heart relies on gap junction channels to maintain cell-cell coupling for efficient and rapid electrical conduction. Connexin expression and gap junction localization play crucial roles in modulating cardiac electrical properties, ultimately affecting cardiac stability and function.
Article
Neurosciences
Chelsea M. Phillips, Allison M. Johnson, Svetlana M. Stamatovic, Richard F. Keep, Anuska V. Andjelkovic
Summary: This study reveals that the absence of CCM3 leads to structural defects in the brain endothelial barrier, increasing the risk of vascular leakage. The upregulation of GJA1-20 k is found to disrupt the balance between gap junctions and tight junctions, destabilizing the tight junction complex and increasing brain endothelial barrier permeability.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuefang Zhou, Thomas M. Bennett, Thomas W. White, Alan Shiels
Summary: CHMP4B is a core sub-unit of the ESCRT-III machinery involved in remodeling and scission processes of biological membranes. It has been found to associate with connexin 46 (Cx46) and connexin 50 (Cx50), and its membrane localization is dependent on Cx50 in lens fiber cells.
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
Karine Dumas, Chaima Ayachi, Jerome Gilleron, Sandra Lacas-Gervais, Faustine Pastor, Francois B. Favier, Pascal Peraldi, Nathalie Vaillant, Laurent Yvan-Charvet, Stephanie Bonnafous, Stephanie Patouraux, Rodolphe Anty, Albert Tran, Philippe Gual, Mireille Cormont, Jean-Francois Tanti, Sophie Giorgetti-Peraldi
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jerome Gilleron, Cindy Meziat, Andre Sulen, Stoyan Ivanov, Jennifer Jager, David Esteve, Catherine Muller, Jean-Francois Tanti, Mireille Cormont
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rafael S. Czepielewski, Alexandre Gallerand, Jerome Gilleron, Narges Khedher, Gwendalyn J. Randolph, Stoyan Ivanov
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2020)
Article
Biology
Georges Raad, Fabrizio Serra, Luc Martin, Marie-Alix Derieppe, Jerome Gilleron, Vera L. Costa, Didier F. Pisani, Ez-Zoubir Amri, Michele Trabucchi, Valerie Grandjean
Summary: Research shows that maintaining a paternal Western diet feeding for five consecutive generations in mice leads to an increase in fat mass and related metabolic diseases over generations, but progenies from these multigenerational Western-diet-fed males develop a healthy overweight phenotype characterized by normal glucose metabolism and without fatty liver, which persists for four subsequent generations. Sperm RNA is suggested to be sufficient for the establishment but not for long-term maintenance of epigenetic inheritance of metabolic pathologies.
Article
Biology
Stephanie Torrino, Victor Tiroille, Bastien Dolfi, Maeva Dufies, Charlotte Hinault, Laurent Bonesso, Sonia Dagnino, Jennifer Uhler, Marie Irondelle, Anne-sophie Gay, Lucile Fleuriot, Delphine Debayle, Sandra Lacas-Gervais, Mireille Cormont, Thomas Bertero, Frederic Bost, Jerome Gilleron, Stephan Clavel
Summary: UBTD1 plays a crucial role in EGFR signaling by controlling both the phosphorylation and lysosomal degradation of EGFR, contributing to the regulation of signal duration.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jennifer Jager, Melanie Gaudfrin, Jerome Gilleron, Mireille Cormont, Jean-Francois Tanti
Summary: This study presents a protocol for differentiating murine fibroblasts into mature adipocytes and modulating the expression of proteins and micro-RNAs in these adipocytes through reverse-transfection.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexandre Gallerand, Marion Stunault, Johanna Merlin, Hannah P. Luehmann, Deborah H. Sultan, Maria M. Firulyova, Virginie Magnone, Narges Khedher, Antoine Jalil, Bastien Dolfi, Alexia Castiglione, Adelie Dumont, Marion Ayrault, Nathalie Vaillant, Jerome Gilleron, Pascal Barbry, David Dombrowicz, Matthias Mack, David Masson, Thomas Bertero, Burkhard Becher, Jesse W. Williams, Konstantin Zaitsev, Yongjian Liu, Rodolphe R. Guinamard, Laurent Yvan-Charvet, Stoyan Ivanov
Summary: The study revealed a large diversity in monocyte and macrophage populations in brown adipose tissue, with monocytes playing a crucial role in tissue expansion and requiring constant replenishment. This highlights the importance of monocyte recruitment for tissue remodeling and expansion in BAT.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Pathology
Mathieu Roumiguie, David Esteve, Cecile Manceau, Aurelie Toulet, Jerome Gilleron, Chloe Belles, Yiyue Jia, Cynthia Houel, Sarah Pericart, Sophie LeGonidec, Philippe Valet, Mireille Cormont, Jean-Francois Tanti, Bernard Malavaud, Anne Bouloumie, Delphine Milhas, Catherine Muller
Summary: This study characterized the structural and functional features of periprostatic adipose tissue (PPAT) and found that it has a sparse vascular network compared to abdominopelvic adipose tissue (APAT), suggesting hypoxia in PPAT. The gene expression analysis revealed high levels of hypoxia-related genes in PPAT, confirming its adaptive response to hypoxia. This chronic hypoxic state is associated with inflammation and fibrosis, explaining why PPAT does not expand in obesity.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Bastien Dolfi, Alexandre Gallerand, Maria M. Firulyova, Yingzheng Xu, Johanna Merlin, Adelie Dumont, Alexia Castiglione, Nathalie Vaillant, Sandrine Quemener, Heidi Gerke, Marion I. Stunault, Patricia R. Schrank, Seung-Hyeon Kim, Alisha Zhu, Jie Ding, Jerome Gilleron, Virginie Magnone, Pascal Barbry, David Dombrowicz, Christophe Duranton, Abdelilah Wakkach, Claudine Blin-Wakkach, Burkhard Becher, Sophie Pagnotta, Rafael J. Arguello, Pia Rantakari, Svetoslav Chakarov, Florent Ginhoux, Konstantin Zaitsev, Ki-Wook Kim, Laurent Yvan-Charvet, Rodolphe R. Guinamard, Jesse W. Williams, Stoyan Ivanov
Summary: This study reveals the diversity, origin, and function of adrenal gland macrophages using single-cell RNA sequencing and genetic models. The study identifies monocyte-derived and embryonically seeded adrenal gland macrophage populations, as well as a subset of macrophages in females with low MHC II expression. The distribution and functions of adrenal gland macrophages show sex-dimorphic patterns, with MHC IIlow macrophages located at the cortico-medullary junction. Depletion of adrenal gland macrophages leads to altered tissue homeostasis, modulated lipid metabolism, and decreased local aldosterone production during stress exposure.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jerome Gilleron, Anja Zeigerer
Summary: Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus have become global epidemics, placing a heavy burden on society. Dysregulation of intracellular membrane trafficking has been found to be associated with metabolic diseases, highlighting the importance of this research field in targeting such diseases.
NATURE REVIEWS ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Serena Petracchini, Daniel Hamaoui, Anne Doye, Atef Asnacios, Florian Fage, Elisa Vitiello, Martial Balland, Sebastien Janel, Frank Lafont, Mukund Gupta, Benoit Ladoux, Jerome Gilleron, Teresa M. Maia, Francis Impens, Laurent Gagnoux-Palacios, Mads Daugaard, Poul H. Sorensen, Emmanuel Lemichez, Amel Mettouchi
Summary: This study reveals a new function of Optineurin (OPTN) in mechanobiology, regulating HACE1-dependent Rac1 activity and controlling integrin-mediated mechanotransduction and bacterial invasion.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Endocrinology & Metabolism
M. Blanc, P. Xiao, J. Gilleron, M. Janona, S. Lacas-Gervais, L. Yvan-Charvet, P. Gual, A. K. Cardozo, B. Bailly-Maitre
Meeting Abstract
Urology & Nephrology
M. Roumiguie, C. Manceau, D. Esteve, C. Belles, J. Gilleron, A. Bouloumie, B. Malavaud, D. Milhas, C. Muller
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Susanne Seitz, Yun Kwon, Goetz Hartleben, Julia Juelg, Revathi Sekar, Natalie Krahmer, Bahar Najafi, Anne Loft, Sofiya Gancheva, Kerstin Stemmer, Annette Feuchtinger, Martin Hrabe de Angelis, Timo D. Mueller, Matthias Mann, Matthias Blueher, Michael Roden, Mauricio Berriel Diaz, Christian Behrends, Jerome Gilleron, Stephan Herzig, Anja Zeigerer
Meeting Abstract
Endocrinology & Metabolism
C. Meziat, J. Toutain, K. Dumas, J. Gilleron, J. Jager, J. -F. Tanti, M. Cormont
