缝隙连接蛋白43羧基端结构域的研究进展

缝隙连接蛋白43(connexin43,Cx43)形成通道,使细胞间可直接进行分子(分子量<1 kDa)交换及信息交流。Cx43是最普遍表达的缝隙连接蛋白,除通道功能外,其他生物学功能主要体现在羧基末端(carboxyl terminal, CT)结构域。Cx43 CT结构域存在与其他蛋白、激酶、因子等相互作用的位点,这些位点可能是治疗预防疾病的潜在靶点。本综述就近年来所研究的CT结构域与相关信号分子作用位点作一总结,旨在为治疗涉及Cx43 CT的疾病提供新思路。     

低氧对大鼠右心室肥厚及心肌中缝隙连接蛋白43表达的影响

目的:研究低氧对大鼠右心室肥厚及心肌中缝隙连接蛋白43 (Cx43)表达的影响.方法:40只健康雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常组(control)、低氧3周组、低氧4周组和低氧5周组.除正常组外,其余3组大鼠分别在低氧环境中饲养3周、4周和5周.测定和比较各组大鼠的平均肺动脉压力(mPAP)、右心室收缩压(RVSP)、右心室肥厚度[Rv/(LV+S)％],并通过免疫组化染色法观察各组大鼠左心室心肌细胞中cx43的表达.结果:与正常组相比,低氧3周、4周、5周组大鼠的mPAP、RVSP、右心室肥厚度均显著升高(P均＜0.05),与低氧3周组比较,低氧4周、5周组大鼠的mPAP、RVSP、右心室肥厚度均显著升高(P均＜0.05),而低氧5周组大鼠的mPAP、RVSP、右心室肥厚度均显著高于低氧4周(P均＜0.05).免疫组织化学结果显示:低氧组大鼠Cx43排列紊乱,端-端连接减少,侧面连接增多;随着低氧时间的延长,大鼠心肌细胞中Cx43的表达逐渐减少,差异具有统计学意义(P均＜0.05).结论:低氧可导致右心室肥厚,并随着诱导时间的延长而逐渐加重,这可能与心肌中Cx43的分布紊乱及表达减少有关.     

心肌细胞缝隙连接重塑与心律失常

缝隙连接是相邻心肌细胞间电、化学偶联的通道,亦是心室肌成为功能性合胞体的重要结构.心肌有缝隙连接蛋白(connexin,CX) 40、43与45的表达,心室肌主要表达CX43.CX43形成的缝隙连接大部分呈点状分布于闰盘部位,心肌细胞膜侧面分布极少.心肌缺血-再灌注、肥厚、衰竭、高胆同醇与糖尿病条件下,心肌细胞缝隙连接...     

贯叶连翘提取物对扩张型心肌病大鼠缝隙连接蛋白Cx43的影响

目的:研究贯叶连翘提取物(HPE)对扩张型心肌病(DCM)大鼠心肌缝隙连接蛋白Cx43表达的作用。方法:以腹腔注射阿霉素建立DCM大鼠模型为基础,分析心肌缝隙连接蛋白(Cx43)表达差异性。结果:治疗组大鼠Cx43蛋白以及Cx43mRNA显著高于模型组。结论:HPE可能通过对Cx43受体敏感性的调节而改变Cx43表达,改善DCM大鼠心功能。     

低频脉冲磁场对大鼠心肌微血管内皮细胞增殖和缝隙连接蛋白43表达的影响

目的:探讨低频磁场对大鼠心肌微血管内皮细胞(CMECs)增殖和缝隙连接蛋白43(Cx43)表达的影响.方法:设不同照射强度为(08.mT组,1.4mT组,1.8mT组)为照射组.不加磁场干预为对照组.照射条件;磁场频率为15Hz,强度分别为0.8mT、1.4mT、1.8mT,照射时间为4 h/d,连续照射7d.应用MTT法检测CMECs增殖,采用Western blot检测Cx43蛋白表达.结果:生长曲线结果显示,磁场能够促进CMECs增殖.1.4mT组照射第2d后CMECs生长速度加快,在第3d开始进入对数生长期,在第4d生长最为旺盛之后进入生长平台期,第2～7d与对照组比较有显著性差异(P＜0.05),而且细胞生长曲线明显前移并且峰值增高.1.4mT组、1.8mT组CMECs增殖与对照组比较显著升高(P＞0.05).磁场照射后Cx43表达明显上调,1.4mT组、1.8mT组Cx43蛋白的表达均明显上升,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),0.8mT组cx43蛋白的表达与对照组比较无显著性差异(P＞0.05).而Cx43蛋白的表达1.4 mT组和1.8mT组之间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论:低频脉冲磁场能促进CMECs增殖与增强细胞活力,上调Cx43表达,其在分子水平上的可能作用机制表现为对Cx43的有效调控.     

缝隙连接蛋白调节机制的研究进展

缝隙连接是由连接相邻两个细胞之间的特殊膜结构,构成缝隙连接的基本单位是连接蛋白(connexin,Cx).目前,已发现21种的连接蛋白,细胞膜上每6个连接蛋白聚合形成一个半通道,通过氢键相互锚定形成兼容且有功能的缝隙连接通道.缝隙连接通道对细胞的新陈代谢、内环境稳定、增殖和分化等生理过程具有重要的调控功能.连接蛋白在心...     

Cx43 在调节胃肠运动障碍机制中的研究进展

胃肠运动功能障碍是许多胃肠道疾病及其他疾病的重要临床表现,其发病率高达胃肠道疾病的70%以上。缝隙连接蛋白43(connexin 43,Cx43)是细胞间隙连接通讯中最重要的间隙连接蛋白,对胃肠道动力的形成和调节起着关键性作用。中西医治疗胃肠道疾病临床疗效显著,但其起效的分子机制尚未阐释清楚。本文从Cx43的细胞间隙连接通讯的角度,对Cx43在调节胃肠运动障碍机制中的研究进展作一综述,为进一步探究中西医调节胃肠运动障碍的机制研究奠定基础。     

Ⅱ型糖尿病对小鼠肝脏Cx43蛋白表达及肝纤维化的影响

采用高脂饲料喂养结合链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导法,建立Ⅱ型糖尿病小鼠动物模型。模型成功建立8周后,检测小鼠血清中葡萄糖、糖化血清蛋白(GSP)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)的含量;以苏木精-伊红染色和油红O染色分别观察肝脏组织病理学变化和脂质沉积情况;以Masson染色结合α平滑肌动蛋白(α-SMA)及E-钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)的免疫组织化学观察肝脏纤维化程度;以蛋白免疫印迹、免疫组化和实时荧光定量PCR分别检测肝脏缝隙连接蛋白43(Cx43)和基因表达。结果表明：与正常组相比,模型组小鼠的血糖、糖化血清蛋白显著升高;肝脏肿大色泽不均,血清AST、ALT、AKP水平显著升高;肝脏组织形态上有所改变,脂质沉积增加;胶原纤维分布显著增加,并且Ⅱ型糖尿病导致了α-SMA表达的增加,E-cadherin表达显著降低;肝组织Cx43表达显著增加。研究结果表明：长期的高血糖易导致小鼠肝损伤和纤维化,从而诱发糖尿病肝病,其肝脏纤维化的机制可能与高血糖诱导Cx43的表达密切有关。     

间隙连接分子Cx43相关蛋白及其功能研究进展

间隙连接是细胞间直接进行信息交流的唯一膜通道结构。Cx43是构成间隙连接中分布最广、研究最多的间隙连接分子,目前运用免疫共沉淀、免疫荧光共定位、pull-down以及酵母双杂交等多种方法研究发现了众多的Cx43相关蛋白。这些蛋白通过与Cx43相互作用在间隙连接蛋白的组装、运输、膜定位,间隙连接通道的形成以及对间隙连接通讯的调控等一系列过程中均发挥十分重要的作用。本文就目前已经研究发现的Cx43相关蛋白及其最新的功能研究进展进行综述。     

转化生长因子-β1及Sirt1/2参与高血压诱导的血管平滑肌细胞缝隙连接蛋白-43的表达及细胞增殖

为探讨转化生长因子-β1及组蛋白去乙酰化酶Sirt1和Sirt2在高血压诱导的血管平滑肌细胞缝隙连接蛋白-43表达及细胞增殖中的作用,研究了腹主动脉窄缩诱导高血压大鼠和正常大鼠胸主动脉转化生长因子-β1、缝隙连接蛋白-43、Sirt1和Sirt2,以及细胞增殖标志蛋白增殖细胞核抗原表达的变化;观察Sirt1和Sirt2在转化生长因子-β1刺激大鼠VSMCs缝隙连接蛋白-43的表达及细胞增殖中的作用。结果显示,高血压大鼠胸主动脉的转化生长因子-β1、缝隙连接蛋白-43、TGF-β1、Sirt1和Sirt2的表达及细胞增殖较正常大鼠均明显升高;转化生长因子-β1促进了大鼠血管平滑肌细胞缝隙连接蛋白-43的表达和增殖,Sirt1与Sirt2的抑制剂Salermide有效抑制了转化生长因子-β1诱导的血管平滑肌细胞缝隙连接蛋白-43的表达与细胞增殖。结果表明,高血压通过上调转化生长因子-β1来诱导VSMCs缝隙连接蛋白-43的表达和细胞增殖,而Sirt1和Sirt2可能在其中起调控作用。     

Connexin 32 and 43 gap junctions differentially modulate tenocyte response to cyclic mechanical load

Gap junctions allow rapid exchange of ions and small metabolites between cells. They can occur between connective tissue cells, and in tendons there are two prominent types, composed of connexin 32 or 43. These form distinct networks - tenocyte rows are linked by both longitudinally, but only by connexin 43 laterally. We hypothesised that the junctions had different roles in cell response to mechanical loading, and measured the effects of inhibitors of gap junction function on secretion of collagen by tenocyte cultures exposed to mechanical strain. Chicken tendon fibroblasts were exposed to cyclic tensile loading in the presence or absence of general gap junction inhibitors (halothane or the biomimetic peptide gap27), or antisense oligonucleotides to chicken connexin 32 or 43. Untreated cultures increased collagen secretion by around 25% under load. Halothane eliminated this response but caused cell damage. Gap27 peptide reduced secretion but maintained loading effects - strained cultures secreting more collagen than unstrained. Antisense downregulation showed major differences between connexins: antisense 32 reduced, and antisense 43 increased, collagen secretion. In both cases loading effects were maintained. This shows that (i) gap junctional integration of signals is important in load response of tenocyte populations - mechanotransduction occurs in individual cells but integration of signals markedly enhances it and (ii) communication via connexin 32 and 43 have differential effects on the load response, with connexin 32 being stimulatory and connexin 43 being inhibitory. Cells coordinate and control their response to mechanical signals at least in part by differential actions of these two types of gap junction.     

Connexin43 Hemichannel-Mediated Regulation of Connexin43

Background

Many signaling molecules and pathways that regulate gap junctions (GJs) protein expression and function are, in fact, also controlled by GJs. We, therefore, speculated an existence of the GJ channel-mediated self-regulation of GJs. Using a cell culture model in which nonjunctional connexin43 (Cx43) hemichannels were activated by cadmium (Cd²⁺), we tested this hypothesis.

Principal Findings

Incubation of Cx43-transfected LLC-PK1 cells with Cd²⁺ led to an increased expression of Cx43. This effect of Cd²⁺ was tightly associated with JNK activation. Inhibition of JNK abolished the elevation of Cx43. Further analysis revealed that the changes of JNK and Cx43 were controlled by GSH. Supplement of a membrane-permeable GSH analogue GSH ethyl ester or GSH precursor N-acetyl-cystein abrogated the effects of Cd²⁺ on JNK activation and Cx43 expression. Indeed, Cd²⁺ induced extracellular release of GSH. Blockade of Cx43 hemichannels with heptanol or Cx43 mimetic peptide Gap26 to prevent the efflux of GSH significantly attenuated the Cx43-elevating effects of Cd²⁺.

Conclusions

Collectively, our results thus indicate that Cd²⁺-induced upregulation of Cx43 is through activation of nonjunctional Cx43 hemichannels. Our findings thus support the existence of a hemichannel-mediated self-regulation of Cx43 and provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of Cx43 expression and function.     

Connexin Expression and Cell Coupling Fail to Reverse the v-src Transformed Growth Characteristics of a Cx43-/- Cell

Gap junctions, composed of connexins, have been shown to suppress transformation in a variety of malignancies and transformed cell types. In addition, transforming factors such as the src oncogene have been shown to directly phosphorylate some connexins (e.g., Cx43) and inhibit coupling. To investigate the role of gap junctions in cell transformsation by v-src, we utilized a clonal cell line derived from Cx43 knockout mice (KoA) that was immortalized, but not transformed. Transfection by v-src induced a marked transformed phenotype characterized by growth in low serum and anchorage-independent conditions. Subsequent transfections by Cx43, Cx32 or vector alone were then tested for their effects on growth. Activity of pp60^{v - src} was confirmed in all transfectants as well as the ability of pp60^{v - src} to phosphorylate Cx43 in several clones. Despite the documented effect of pp60^{v - src} on Cx43 channel closure, modest coupling was still retained in many of the Cx43 and Cx32 transfectants. However, none of the four Cx43 transfected clones showed significant inhibitory effects on proliferation in either anchorage-independent or low serum growth conditions. Of the Cx32 clones, only one in five showed effects on growth in both assays, which was the same ratio observed for the control transfectants. Thus, based on the levels of expression achieved, which were comparable to endogenous levels in established cell lines, neither Cx43 nor Cx32 serve as effective suppressors of the transformed growth phenotype of this v-src expressing cell line.     

Transcriptional and Translational Regulation of Zebrafish Connexin 55.5 (zf.Cx.55.5) and Connexin 52.6 (zf.Cx52.6)

Zebrafish connexin 55.5 (zf.Cx55.5) and connexin 52.6 (zf.Cx52.6) show highly restricted expression patterns in the nervous system. Both connexins are confined to subsets of neurons in the fish retina. In order to get initial answers to the questions of pattern definition in neuronal subsets, we elucidated molecular mechanisms responsible for their expression. Different upstream DNA fragments were subcloned into a pGL3-basic vector and transiently transfected in HeLa and N2A cells. Luciferase activity showed the presence of two putative promoter elements in zfCx55.5 and a promoter element in zfCx52.6 that showed different promoter activities in HeLa and N2A cells. Moreover, fusion constructs of zfCx55.5 with EGFP revealed the presence of a new isoform with an additional short exon I.     

Transcriptional and Translational Regulation of Zebrafish Connexin 55.5 (zf.Cx.55.5) and Connexin 52.6 (zf.Cx52.6)

Zebrafish connexin 55.5 (zf.Cx55.5) and connexin 52.6 (zf.Cx52.6) show highly restricted expression patterns in the nervous system. Both connexins are confined to subsets of neurons in the fish retina. In order to get initial answers to the questions of pattern definition in neuronal subsets, we elucidated molecular mechanisms responsible for their expression. Different upstream DNA fragments were subcloned into a pGL3-basic vector and transiently transfected in HeLa and N2A cells. Luciferase activity showed the presence of two putative promoter elements in zfCx55.5 and a promoter element in zfCx52.6 that showed different promoter activities in HeLa and N2A cells. Moreover, fusion constructs of zfCx55.5 with EGFP revealed the presence of a new isoform with an additional short exon I.     

Connexin 43在细胞死亡中的作用

缝隙连接蛋白在细胞膜表面聚合形成半通道,部分两两结合构成缝隙连接通道,两者与胚胎发育、肿瘤发生及某些心脑血管疾病有关。Connexin 43(Cx43)在心肌细胞和神经细胞高表达,在多种缺血性心脑疾病及缺血再灌注损伤的病理过程中具有重要作用。近来有研究发现,Cx43也存在于线粒体和细胞核,分别参与心肌保护和细胞分化。该文以心肌细胞和神经细胞为主讨论近年来Cx43在细胞死亡中的作用的研究进展。     

Stimulated Phosphorylation of Intracellular Connexin43

A monoclonal antibody, Zymed 13-8300, was previously reported to only detect nonphosphorylated connexin43 (Nagy et al., Exp. Cell Res. 236, 127-136, 1997). We show that 13-8300 can detect several phosphorylated species of connexin43 in Western blots after stimulation of two fibroblast cell systems with fresh growth medium, 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate, pervanadate, or permolybdate. In one of the cell systems, at least three forms of phosphorylated connexin43 could migrate at the same position during electrophoresis. The comigration of differentially phosphorylated species may complicate the molecular and functional analysis of phosphorylation sites in Cx43. Immunofluorescence experiments indicated that the newly generated phosphorylated Cx43 forms mainly had a perinuclear location. Also, in cells treated with brefeldin A for 8 h, in which the majority of connexin43 was intracellular, phosphorylation was induced by the agents. Phosphorylation of intracellular connexin43 can therefore be induced by several stimuli.     

Connexin43 expression during Xenopus development

The polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB) and its recently discovered homologue brain-enriched PTB (brPTB) are RNA binding proteins involved in the control of alternative splicing. We have characterized expression patterns of the PTB and brPTB in course of mouse brain development, using mRNA in situ hybridization. PTB is expressed in choroid plexi and ependyma at all the stages of development and temporarily in the mantle layer of migrating neuroblasts of fore-, mid- and hindbrain and in the external granular layer of cerebellum. In the neurons of adult mouse cerebrum and cerebellum expression of PTB is undetectable. In contrast to this, brPTB is expressed ubiquitously in neuroblasts of various parts of embryonic brain and in the differentiated neurons of postnatal cerebrum and cerebellum. brPTB mRNA is not observed in choroid plexi and ependymal layer. Thus, in the embryonic brain expression patterns of PTB and brPTB overlap, but in the course of brain development the patterns become complementary to each other.     

Differential Oligomerization of Endoplasmic Reticulum-Retained Connexin43/Connexin32 Chimeras

To examine early events in connexin oligomerization, we made connexin constructs containing a C-terminal di-lysine based endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention/retrieval signal (HKKSL). Previously, we found that both Cx32-HKKSL and Cx43-HKKSL were retained in the ER. However, Cx32-HKKSL oligomerized into hexameric hemichannels, but Cx43-HKKSL was retained as an apparent monomer. To define elements that prevent Cx43-HKKSL oligomerization in the ER, we made a series of HKKSL-tagged Cx43/Cx32 chimeras. When expressed by HeLa cells, some chimeras were retained in the ER as apparent monomers, whereas others oligomerized in the ER. To date, the second and third transmembrane domains and the cytoplasmic loop domain provide the minimal sufficient Cx43 element to inhibit ER oligomerization.