Functional heterotypic interactions between astrocyte and oligodendrocyte connexins.
AuthorsMagnotti LM, Goodenough DA, Paul DL
JournalGlia
PubMed ID21046554
'Human genetic diseases and mouse knockouts illustrate that the maintenance of central nervous system myelin requires connexin expression by both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Because these cell types express nonoverlapping sets of connexins, the intercellular channels formed between them must be asymmetric with regard to connexin content, defined as heterotypic. Here, ... More
Distinct and gradient distributions of connexin26 and connexin30 in the cochlear sensory epithelium of guinea pigs.
AuthorsZhao HB, Yu N
JournalJ Comp Neurol
PubMed ID16998915
'Connexin26 (Cx26) and Cx30 are predominant isoforms of gap junction channels in the cochlea and play a critical role in hearing. In this study, the cellular distributions of Cx26 and Cx30 in the cochlear sensory epithelium of guinea pigs were examined by immunofluorescent staining and confocal microscopy in whole mounts ... More
Tanshinone IIA increases the bystander effect of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir gene therapy via enhanced gap junctional intercellular communication.
AuthorsXiao J, Zhang G, Qiu P, Liu X, Wu Y, Du B, Li J, Zhou J, Li J, Tan Y,
Journal
PubMed ID23861780
'The bystander effect is an intriguing phenomenon by which adjacent cells become sensitized to drug treatment during gene therapy with herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV). This effect is reported to be mediated by gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), and therefore, we postulated that upregulation of genes that facilitate GJIC ... More
The relationship between connexins, gap junctions, tissue architecture and tumour invasion, as studied in a novel in vitro model of HPV-16-associated cervical cancer progression.
AuthorsAasen T, Hodgins MB, Edward M, Graham SV,
JournalOncogene
PubMed ID12970745
Disruption of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and/or connexins (gap junction proteins) is frequently reported in malignant cell lines and tumours. Certain human papillomaviruses (HPV) associated with the development of cancers, especially of the cervix, have previously been reported to downregulate GJIC in vitro. There is also evidence for reduced ... More
Connexin expression and gap junctional coupling in human cumulus cells: contribution to embryo quality.
Gap junctional coupling among cumulus cells is important for oogenesis since its deficiency in mice leads to impaired folliculogenesis. Multiple connexins (Cx), the subunits of gap junction channels, have been found within ovarian follicles in several species but little is known about the connexins in human follicles. The aim of ... More
Astroglial connexin immunoreactivity is specifically altered at ß-amyloid plaques in ß-amyloid precursor protein/presenilin1 mice.
AuthorsMei X, Ezan P, Giaume C, Koulakoff A,
JournalNeuroscience
PubMed ID20813165
Activation of astrocytes surrounding amyloid plaques is a hallmark of Alzheimer disease (AD) with consequences yet poorly understood. Astrocytes are characterized by a high level of intercellular communication mediated by two gap-junction forming proteins, connexin-43 and connexin-30. As astroglial connexins (Cxs) are involved in neuronal dysfunctions and death, we have ... More
Limited intravascular coupling in the rodent brainstem and retina supports a role for glia in regional blood flow.
AuthorsKuo IY, Chan-Ling T, Wojcikiewicz RJ, Hill CE
JournalJ Comp Neurol
PubMed ID18925566
Regional synaptic activity induces local increases in perfusion that are coupled to upstream vasodilation and improved blood flow. In the cerebral circulation, it has been proposed that astrocytes mediate the link between the initiating stimulus and local vasodilation through propagated intracellular calcium waves. In the systemic circulation the mechanism by ... More