细胞松驰素B促微丝解聚对DNA合成的作用

利用微丝（ｍｉｃｒｏｆｉｌａｍｅｎｔ,ＭＦ）解聚药物细胞松驰素Ｂ（ｃｙｔｏｃｈａｌａｓｉｎＢ,ＣＢ）处理Ｇ_０期小鼠Ｃ_３Ｈ_（１０）Ｔ_（１／２）成纤维细胞,对Ｇ_０至Ｓ期ＤＮＡ合成,胸腺嘧啶核苷激酶（ｔｈｙｍｉｄｉｎｅｋｉｎａｓｅ,ＴＫ）活性、ＴＫ基因表达、钙调素（ｃａｌｍｏｄｕｌｉｎ,ＣａＭ）水平和一些细胞周期早期基因的表达进行了观察,Ｇ_０期细胞经３ｍｇ／ＬＣＢ处理２ｈ,促ＭＦ解聚增强了血清对Ｓ期细胞ＴＫ活性、ＴＫ基因表达和ＤＮＡ合成的刺激作用,并促进细胞提前进入Ｓ期．血清刺激Ｇ_０期细胞进入晚Ｇ_１期和Ｓ期时,ＣａＭ水平明显升高,而ＣＢ预处理则使ＣａＭ含量进一步增加,特别是ＣＢ处理促使Ｓ期ＣａＭ增加向核内转移．ＣＢ处理明显增强血清对ｃ－ｊｕｎ、ｃ－ｆｏｓ和ｃ－ｍｙｃ基因表达的刺激作用,而ＰＫＣ抑制剂Ｈ_７则抑制ＣＢ处理对这些基因转录的刺激作用,说明ＣＢ使Ｇ_０期细胞ＭＦ解聚刺激ｃ－ｊｕｎ、ｃ－ｆｏｓ和ｃ－ｍｙｃ的转录活性与ＰＫＣ的作用有关．结果表明Ｇ_０至Ｓ期早期ＭＦ的重组可促进细胞进入Ｓ期,增强ＤＮＡ合成．     

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子对大鼠肾小球系膜细胞原癌基因c-fos和c-myc表达的影响

在建立大鼠肾小球系膜细胞（ＭＣ）体外培养方法的基础上,通过３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入实验,ＲＮＡ印迹分析和斑点杂交观察ｂＦＧＦ对ＭＣＤＮＡ合成及原癌基因ｃ－ｆｏｓ和ｃ－ｍｙｃ表达的影响．结果表明,ｂＦＧＦ作用于ＭＣ１８ｈ,ＭＣ的３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入率明显增加（Ｐ＜０．０５）,２４ｈ达到高峰（Ｐ＜０．０１）;ｂＦＧＦ显著诱导原癌基因ｃ－ｆｏｓ和ｃ－ｍｙｃ表达,其表达活性分别于３０ｍｉｎ和１ｈ达到高峰．提示ｂＦＧＦ是ＭＣ的强效丝裂原,其对ＭＣＤＮＡ合成的促进作用与诱导原癌基因ｃ－ｆｏｓ和ｃ－ｍｙｃ表达有关．     

细胞凋亡过程中bcl-2基因的甲基化

为探讨凋亡过程中,ｂｃｌ－２基因下调与该基因甲基化状态的关系,用５－氟尿嘧啶（５－Ｆｕ）诱导小鼠成纤维细胞ＮＣ３Ｈ１０,ＴＣ３Ｈ１０及人乳腺癌细胞ＭＣＦ－７的凋亡,分别检测了这三种细胞凋亡过程中ｂｃｌ－２的表达变化,与其调控区及编码区的甲基化状况．我们曾观察到５－Ｆｕ作用２４～４８ｈ出现细胞存活率下降,ＤＮＡ梯状断裂及细胞周期凋亡峰显现等典型凋亡现象．Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ杂交显示,在５－Ｆｕ作用１２ｈ时ｂｃｌ－２ｍＲＮＡ水平已明显降低．由此,我们用小鼠ｂｃｌ－２（ｍｂｃｌ－２）及人ｂｃｌ－２（ｈｂｃｌ－２）基因调控区ＰＣＲ扩增片段及ｂｃｌ－２编码区（ｃＤＮＡ）片段作为探针,与５－Ｆｕ作用１２ｈ的细胞ＤＮＡ的ＭｓｐⅠ／ＨｐａⅡ酶切产物进行Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交,以未作用的细胞ＤＮＡ同样酶切杂交为对照．通过杂交带谱的变化,分析ｂｃｌ－２基因的甲基化状况．结果显示：ｍｂｃｌ－２及ｈｂｃｌ－２在５－Ｆｕ作用１２ｈ后调控区甲基化水平增高,但其编码区甲基化状态皆未出现可检出的变化．上述结果提示：ｂｃｌ－２基因调控区甲基化水平升高可能与该基因下调有关     

神经酰胺诱导药物敏感型和耐药型细胞凋亡机制的探讨

以药物敏感型细胞株Ｋ５６２／Ｓ和耐药型细胞株Ｋ５６２／Ａ０２为对象．观察原癌基因Ｂｃｌ－２的表达量在两种细胞中的差异,以及神经酰胺作为一个新的脂质第二信使诱导细胞凋亡的能力,并利用酪氨酸激酶抑制剂ｇｅｎｉｓｔｅｉｎ,酪氨酸磷酸酯酶抑制剂ｖａｎａｄａｔｅ,观察酪氨酸可逆磷酸化与细胞凋亡间的关系．结果显示：在Ｋ５６２／Ａ０２中Ｂｃｌ－２的表达量明显高于Ｋ５６２／Ｓ;外源性神经酰胺能成功地诱导Ｋ５６２／Ｓ,Ｋ５６２／Ａ０２细胞凋亡,凋亡细胞具有典型的形态学改变和ＤＮＡ“Ｌａｄｄｅｒ”形成,ＦＣＭ检测出现凋亡细胞峰,但在同样的诱导条件下,Ｋ５６２／Ｓ细胞凋亡明显高于Ｋ５６２／Ａ０２细胞．ＦＣＭ检测ｇｅｎｉｓｔｅｉｎ能显著改变这两种细胞生长周期,但细胞阻滞于Ｇ２／Ｍ期,便对神经酰胺诱导的细胞凋亡无明显作用,ｖａｎａｄａｔｅ单独对细胞地明显作用,但与神经酰胺共同作用能明显提高细胞凋亡率．以上结果表明在药物诱导的细胞调亡中Ｂｃｌ－２基因起重要作用,神经酰胺能诱导Ｋ５６２／Ｓ和Ｋ５６２／Ａ０２细胞调亡．     

大蒜油抗肿瘤作用的流式细胞光度术分析

用流式细胞光度术（ｆｌｏｗｅｙｔｏｍｅｔｒｙ,ＦＣＭ）+Ｓ０．２ｍｌ／日。吐温对照组ｌＰ吐温８００．２ｍｌ／日,以排除大蒜油制剂中溶剂（吐温８０）的影响。实验组ｌＰＧＯ１００ｍｇ／ｋｇ／．日。于连续４次注射后的６ｈ,２、３、５、１０天及１０次注射ＧＯ后７天取材,行ＦＣＭ样品制备。三、ＦＣＭ样品制备与测定中国中医研究院基础所腹水癌细胞用ＰＢＳ洗涤,７０％酒精固定,ＲＮａｓｅ消化细胞中的ＲＮＡ,ＰＩ染色。用腹腔内淋巴细胞作标准二倍体细胞。用４２０型荧光激活细胞分选仪（美国Ｂｅｃｔｏ－Ｄｉｃｋｓｏｎ公司产品）测单个肿瘤细胞的ＤＮＡ含量,用组方图显示肿瘤细胞ＤＮＡ倍体性质。图中第一个是ＤＮＡ二倍体（ＺＣ）峰,处于该峰的细胞为Ｇ;／Ｇ。期细胞,第二个峰为４ＣＤＮＡ峰,该处细胞为Ｇ。－Ｉ－－Ｍ期细胞,从２。到４。之间的细胞为Ｓ期细胞。大于４。ＤＮＡ峰细胞为高倍体细胞‘’：。根据不同峰值大小判定用药后肿瘤细胞倍体性质的变化。结果ＮＳ与吐温对照组肿瘤细胞都为非整倍体性,且呈多倍体性（图１,２）。连续４次给药后６ｈ,绝大部分多倍体肿瘤细胞被杀伤,残存肿瘤细胞以二倍体为主,多倍体肿瘤细胞峰值显著下降,甚至在组方图上几乎显不出多倍     

L-苯丙氨酸与血管平滑肌细胞增殖

本文用氚标胸腺嘧啶核苷掺入ＤＮＡ合成法测定自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）与正常对照鼠的培养主动脉血管平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣ）增殖,观察Ｌ－苯丙氨酸对细胞增殖、细胞生长及原癌基因ｃ－ｆｏｓ、ｃ－ｍｙｃ表达的影响。结果显示：（１）Ｌ－苯丙氨酸剂量依赖性地抑制血清、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子及凝血酶诱导的ＤＮＡ合成;（２）Ｌ－苯丙氨酸剂量依赖性地抑制细胞对血清的增殖反应;（３）Ｌ－苯丙氨酸抑制血清诱导的ｃ－ｆｏｓ     

细胞凋亡过程中c-erbB-2基因的表达

据文献报道ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２可以介导细胞凋亡,为检验这一结论是否具有普遍性,用５－氟尿嘧啶（５－Ｆｕ）诱导小鼠成纤维细胞ＮＣ３Ｈ１０,ＴＣ３Ｈ１０及人乳腺癌细胞ＭＣＦ－７的凋亡．用Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ印迹法检测ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２的表达状况．结果显示：ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２基因表达在５－Ｆｕ作用６ｈ开始降低,１２ｈ降低更为明显．作用２４～４８ｈ出现细胞存活率下降,ＤＮＡ梯状断裂及细胞周期凋亡峰等凋亡典型现象．实验结果并不支持ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２可介导细胞凋亡的观点．该基因在细胞凋亡过程中有何作用尚待探讨．     

一种新的脉冲电泳分子量标记*

在脉冲电泳（ｐｕｌｓｅｄ－ｆｉｅｌｄ　ｇｅｌ　ｅｌｃｔｒｏｐｈｏｒｅｓｉｓ,ＰＦＧＥ）研究中,经常使用的分子量标记有啤酒酵母（Ｓａｃｃｈａｒｏｍｙｃｅｓ　ｃｅｒｅｖｅｓｌａｅ）和粟酒裂殖酵母（Ｓｃｈｉｚｏｓａｃｃｈａｒｏｍｙｃｅｓ　ｐｏｍｂｅ）的染色体完整ＤＮＡ。其中,啤酒酵母（如菌株ＹＮＮ２９５）有１６条染色体,分子量变化范围为０．２５Ｍｂ～２．２Ｍｂ（ＭｃＣｌｕｓｋｅｙｅｌａｌ,１９９０）,适于作为小于２．２Ｍｂ的染色体ＤＮＡ的分子量标记;粟酒裂殖酵母（如菌株９７２ｈ－）有３条染色体,分子量…     

细胞转化过程中胞内钙离子浓度的变化

使用钙离子荧光探针Ｆｌｕｏ－３ＡＭ和ＤＮＡ荧光染料Ｈｏｅｃｈｓｔ３３３４２联染细胞的方法,利用显微分光光度计ＭＰＶⅡ测量了两种温度敏感细胞—６Ｍ２和ｔｓＲＳＶＮＩＨ３Ｔ３－ＬＡ９０细胞及Ｃ３Ｈ１０Ｔ１／２和转化Ｃ３Ｈ１０Ｔ１／２细胞在不同细胞周期时相内钙的浓度,发现从Ｇ１期到Ｓ期到Ｇ２期,６ｍ２细胞当在３３℃培养时（转化状态）胞内钙的浓度〔Ｃａ＾２＋〕ｉ分别为８５．０,１３８．４２３９．０ｎｍｏｌ     

紫云英细胞转化条件的研究

研究了紫云英（ＡｓｔｒａｇａｌｕｓｓｉｎｉｃｕｓＬ．）细胞遗传转化的条件。根癌农杆菌（Ａｇｒｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍｔｕｍ ｅｆａｃｉｅｎｓ）经含乙酰丁香酮的低ｐＨ／ＰＯ３－４ 诱导培养后,用来感染紫云英下胚轴原生质体,随后的细胞ＧＵＳ瞬间表达活性显著提高,间接证明了上述预培养诱导活化了细菌ｖｉｒ基因,促进了Ｔ－ＤＮＡ 向植物细胞转移。在ＰＥＧ介导的ＤＮＡ 转移中,较高的ｐＨ 和Ｃａ２＋ 浓度能够提高细胞ＧＵＳ活性。质粒ＤＮＡ 浓度及启动子类型对外源基因在植物细胞内表达也有一定影响。采用外植体－农杆菌共培养法,获得ＧＵＳ和ＮＰＴ Ⅱ基因稳定表达的紫云英转化植株     

Apoptotic effects of hydrogen peroxide and vitamin C on chicken embryonic fibroblasts: redox state and programmed cell death

The pro-apoptotic effects of hydrogen peroxide and the purported anti-apoptotic effects of Vitamin C on chicken embryonic fibroblasts were investigated. Hydrogen peroxide induced morphological changes in a dose dependent manner, and a myriad of autophagosomes were observed using transmission electron microscopy. Doxorubicin elicited alterations were not inhibited by co-incubation with Vitamin C except that mitochondrial structure was slightly improved. TUNEL assay, cytotoxicity analysis and flow cytometry revealed that the cytotoxicity, DNA fragmentation and apoptotic rates were dose dependent upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide. Calcium homeostasis was disrupted in a dose dependent manner, and cell cycle was blocked at G₂/M checkpoint at low concentration and S/G₂ checkpoint at high concentration respectively upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide. The administration of Vitamin C only has a modest effect against doxorubicin induced apoptosis, calcium homeostasis disruption and cell cycle arrest. This research demonstrated that the elevation of reactive oxygen species is sufficient to induce the apoptosis of chicken embryonic fibroblasts, whereas the administration of Vitamin C does not necessarily have certain anti-apoptotic effects, especially when the stimulus is not directly linked with redox state.     

小剂量过氧化氢对大鼠心肌细胞钙瞬变及凋亡的作用

目的:探讨小剂量过氧化氢导致的氧化应激对大鼠心肌细胞钙瞬变及细胞凋亡的作用。方法:解剖取出成年大鼠心脏,应用langendorff方法分离心肌细胞,加入fluo-3荧光指示剂后,应用不同浓度的过氧化氢作用于心肌细胞,在共聚焦显微镜下测定心肌细胞内钙瞬变。分离并培养新生大鼠心肌细胞,观察过氧化氢处理心肌细胞后其形态的变化,从而评价小剂量过氧化氢对心肌细胞的凋亡作用。结果:应用0.125 mmol/L、0.25 mmol/L及0.375 mmol/L的过氧化氢作用于心肌细胞后,心肌细胞内钙瞬变幅度明显升高,并呈时间剂量依赖性。在培养的大鼠原代心肌细胞中加入0.25 mmol/L的过氧化氢后,心肌细胞发生凋亡的形态变化。结论:小剂量过氧化氢可开放心肌细胞L-钙通道,明显增加心肌细胞内钙瞬变,并导致心肌细胞凋亡。     

Bcl-2 and mitochondrial oxygen radicals. New approaches with reactive oxygen species-sensitive probes.

Investigations into the capacity of the Bcl-2 protein to prevent apoptosis have targeted mitochondria as key sites of the preventative action accorded by Bcl-2 to cells. Using novel approaches with fluorescence probes and autofluorescence detection of endogenous NAD(P)H, we have examined the effects of expressing Bcl-2 in the Bcl-2 negative Burkitt's lymphoma cell line Daudi. We evaluated for the first time the effect of Bcl-2 expression on the intracellular distribution and production of hydrogen peroxide, under basal conditions and after treatment with apoptosis inducing agents, ceramide analogs and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Increased availability of mitochondrial NAD(P)H was detected in Bcl-2-expressing cells and was correlated with an increased constitutive mitochondrial production of hydrogen peroxide. Although production of hydrogen peroxide was increased by either C(6)-ceramide or TNF-alpha in Bcl-2 negative Daudi cells commensurate with the early phases of apoptosis, this increase did not occur in Bcl-2-expressing cells. Thus, Bcl-2 appears to allow cells to adapt to an increased state of oxidative stress, fortifying the cellular anti-oxidant defenses and counteracting the radical overproduction imposed by different cell death stimuli. Furthermore, we report altered cytological features of mitochondria during the early phases of apoptosis induced by C(6)-ceramide and TNF-alpha. In particular, mitochondria changed in appearance, clustering in the perinuclear region and Bcl-2 expression prevented these changes from occurring.     

Intracellular acidification triggered by mitochondrial-derived hydrogen peroxide is an effector mechanism for drug-induced apoptosis in tumor cells

We recently showed that two photoproducts of merocyanine 540, C2 and C5, triggered cytochrome C release; however, C5 was inefficient in inducing caspase activity and apoptosis in leukemia cells, unlike C2. Here we show that HL60 cells acidified upon exposure to C2 but not C5. The intracellular drop in pH and caspase activation were dependent upon hydrogen peroxide production, and were inhibited by scavengers of hydrogen peroxide. On the contrary, caspase inhibitors did not block hydrogen peroxide production. In turn, increased intracellular hydrogen peroxide concentration was downstream of superoxide anion produced within 2 h of exposure to C2. Inhibitor of NADPH oxidase diphenyleneiodonium neither inhibited superoxide production nor caspase activation triggered by C2. However, exposure of purified mitochondria to C2 resulted in significantly increased superoxide production. Furthermore, cytochrome C release from isolated mitochondria induced by C2 was completely inhibited in the presence of scavengers of hydrogen peroxide. Contrarily, scavenging hydrogen peroxide had no effect on the cyclosporin A-sensitive mitochondrial permeability transition induced by C5. Our data suggest a scenario where drug-induced hydrogen peroxide production induces intracellular acidification and release of cytochrome C, independent of the inner membrane pore, thereby creating an intracellular environment permissive for caspase activation.     

Synthesis of genistein derivatives and determination of their protective effects against vascular endothelial cell damages caused by hydrogen peroxide

A series of genistein derivatives, prepared by alkylation and difluoromethylation, were tested for their inhibitory effects on the hydrogen peroxide induced impairment in human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE-12) cells in vitro. The HUVE-12 cells were pretreated with either the vehicle solvent (DMSO), genistein, or different amounts of the genistein derivatives for 30 min before exposed to 1 mM hydrogen peroxide for 24 h. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry with propidium iodide (PI) staining. Cellular injury was estimated by measuring the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Data suggested that the genistein derivatives possessed a protective effect on HUVE-12 cells from hydrogen peroxide induced apoptosis and reduced LDH release. Among these derivatives, 7-difluoromethyl-5,4'-dimethoxygenistein exhibited the strongest activity against hydrogen peroxide induced apoptosis of HUVE-12 cells.     

Fas-stimulated generation of reactive oxygen species or exogenous oxidative stress sensitize cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis

Inhibition of Fas-mediated apoptosis in B cell lymphomas by thiol antioxidants (glutathione and N-acetylcysteine) supported previous studies, suggesting that Fas-stimulated ROS generation may play a role in Fas-mediated apoptosis. Thus, the goal of the current study was to determine if Fas stimulation could induce ROS generation and what role, if any, it played in apoptosis. Fas crosslinking induced rapid generation of ROS (within 15 min) well before the appearance of characteristic apoptotic changes. Overexpression of catalase or superoxide dismutase suggested that Fas induced production of both superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. ROS generation was only observed, however, in cells that were sensitive to apoptosis and not in B cells inherently resistant to anti-Fas or in those in which resistance was induced by B cell receptor crosslinking. The exogenous addition of 250 microM hydrogen peroxide could reverse the resistant phenotype and sensitize cells to Fas-induced apoptosis. In Fas-sensitive cells, depletion of endogenous antioxidant defenses with buthionine sulfoximine increased the sensitivity to Fas-induced apoptosis, while overexpression of antioxidant enzymes and antiapoptotic proteins suggested a role for Fas-induced production of hydrogen peroxide in apoptosis. Further analysis suggested a redox-sensitive step early in Fas signaling at the level of initiator caspase (caspase-8) activation. Thus, the data suggest that the level of oxidative stress, either from exogenous sources or generated endogenously upon receptor stimulation, regulates the sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis.     

Pyruvate prevents hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis

Studies were carried out to investigate the protective effects of pyruvate, a key glycolytic intermediate and α-keto-monocarboxylate, against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Oxidative stress was induced by treating mouse thymocytes with 25 μM hydrogen peroxide for 15 min at 37°C under 5% CO₂ in air. Pre- and post-treatment of cells with 10 mM pyruvate inhibited morphological changes, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and translocation of phosphatidylserine to the plasma membrane surface, which are characteristic features of apoptosis. L-lactate (10 mM) and acetate (10 mM) were ineffective in inhibiting apoptosis and appeared to be toxic to the cells under similar conditions. The results suggest that pyruvate has therapeutic potential for use in the treatment of oxidative stress-induced disorders associated with increased apoptosis.     

Epidermal growth factor rescues trophoblast apoptosis induced by reactive oxygen species

Pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction are associated with increased apoptosis of placental villous trophoblast. This may result from placental hypoperfusion, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Apoptosis can be induced in villous trophoblast following exposure to oxidative stress. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) reduces trophoblast apoptosis resulting from exposure to hypoxia. We hypothesised that exposure to hydrogen peroxide, a potent generator of ROS, would induce apoptosis in term placental villous explants and that this could be reduced by treatment with EGF. Placental explants were taken from normal term pregnancies and exposed to increasing doses of hydrogen peroxide (0–1,000 μM) or to a combination of increasing doses of hydrogen peroxide and EGF (0–100 ng/ml) for either 6 or 48 h. Apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL, proliferation by Ki-67 immunostaining, necrosis by lactate dehydrogenase activity and trophoblast differentiation by human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) secretion in conditioned culture media. Immunoperoxidase staining was performed to identify phosphorylated-AKT (p-AKT) and phosphorylated-PI3 kinase (p-PI3k). Exposure to 1,000 μM hydrogen peroxide for 48 h induced apoptosis in placental explants. The increase in TUNEL positive nuclei predominantly localised to syncytiotrophoblast. The amount of apoptosis was reduced to control levels by treatment with 10 and 100 ng/ml EGF. Proliferation of cytotrophoblasts within villous explants was significantly reduced following exposure to 1,000 μM hydrogen peroxide, this was restored to control levels by simultaneous treatment with 10 or 100 ng/ml EGF. Neither exposure to hydrogen peroxide or EGF altered the amount of necrosis. There was increased immunostaining for pPI3K following treatment with EGF. This study shows that apoptosis may be induced in villous trophoblast following exposure to ROS, and demonstrates the anti-apoptotic effect of EGF in trophoblast, the maintenance of which is essential for normal pregnancy.     

Connexin 43 confers resistance to hydrogen peroxide-mediated apoptosis

The current study aimed to understand the anti-apoptotic effect of overexpressed gap junction forming protein connexin (Cx) 43 in C6 glioma cells. C6 cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or staurosporine demonstrated morphological and biochemical changes consistent with apoptosis, whereas C6 cells expressing Cx43 demonstrated relative resistance to H2O2, but not to staurosporine. This selective protection against H2O2 was due to inhibition of caspase-3 activation in Cx43 expressing cells. siRNA knockdown experiments in rat primary astrocytes confirmed the presence of endogenous Cx43-mediated anti-apoptotic effect. Cx43 interacts with the upstream apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 known to mediate H2O2-induced apoptosis providing a possible mechanism for protection. These findings provided new evidence for regulation of the mitogen activated protein kinase pathway and apoptosis by Cx43 implicating this protein in intracellular signaling beyond its role as a gap junction forming protein on the plasma membrane.