Connexin43 Hemichannel-Mediated Regulation of Connexin43

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058057
• Publication Date: 2013-02-27T22:51:03Z
• Authors: Kai Li; Yuan Chi; Kun Gao; Qiaojing Yan; Hiroyuki Matsue; Masayuki Takeda; Masanori Kitamura; Jian Yao
• Keywords: Pannexin

Many signaling molecules and pathways that regulate gap junctions (GJs) protein expression function are, in fact, also controlled by GJs. We, therefore, speculated an existence of the GJ channel-mediated self-regulation Using a cell culture model which nonjunctional connexin43 (Cx43) hemichannels were activated cadmium (Cd(2+)), we tested this hypothesis.Incubation Cx43-transfected LLC-PK1 cells with Cd(2+) led to increased Cx43. This effect was tightly associated JNK activation. Inhibition abolished elevation Further analysis revealed changes Cx43 GSH. Supplement membrane-permeable GSH analogue ethyl ester or precursor N-acetyl-cystein abrogated effects on activation expression. Indeed, induced extracellular release Blockade heptanol mimetic peptide Gap26 prevent efflux significantly attenuated Cx43-elevating Cd(2+).Collectively, our results thus indicate Cd(2+)-induced upregulation is through hemichannels. Our findings support hemichannel-mediated provide novel insights into molecular mechanisms function.