Connexin 43 Enhances the Adhesivity and Mediates the Invasion of Malignant Glioma Cells

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.22-11-04302.2002
• Publication Date: 2018-04-13T22:26:59Z
• Authors: Jane H.-C. Lin; Takahiro Takano; Maria Luisa Cotrina; Gregory Arcuino; Jian Kang; Shujun Liu; Qun Gao; Li Jiang; Fanshu Li; Hella Lichtenberg...; Sandra Haubrich; Klaus Willecke; Steven A. Goldman; Maiken Nedergaard
• Keywords: Syncytium; Glial tumor

A hallmark of astrocytic tumors is their infiltrative nature. Although aggressive and typically widespread dispersal in the adult brain differs fundamentally from that other tumors, little known about cellular basis. Astrocytic express gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43), we show here Cx43 expression induced morphological transformation glioma cells into an epithelial phenotype. In a short-term aggregation assay, was associated with several-fold increase competence to aggregate. Antibodies directed against extracellular domain restored connexin-deficient phenotype, as manifested by dose-dependent reduction aggregation. Apart role formation, connexins may therefore be considered distinct class membrane proteins adhesive properties. Moreover, implanted Cx43-expressing established functional channels host astrocytes dispersed through substantially greater volume parenchyma than mock- mutant Cx43-transfected sister cells. modulate not only adhesion one another, but spread glial tumor throughout syncytia. These observations widen our concept potential interactions between surroundings suggest both derived junctions are critical determinants invasiveness central gliomas.