Pannexin通道蛋白功能研究概述

Pannexin基因是2000年发现的缝隙连接蛋白家族新成员。目前研究表明,Pannexin蛋白(Px)可以在细胞膜上组成半通道或在细胞间形成缝隙连接通道,介导细胞内ATP释放、细胞间钙波传递、味觉感受、血管血流调节以及免疫应答等多种生理功能。在病理状态下,Px参与炎症、肿瘤、脑缺血、癫痫以及心衰等重大疾病发生、发展。随着Pannexin研究领域的深入,其生理病理状态下的更多重大功能将被阐释。

The research progress in the functions of pannexin

The gene of Pannexin is a new gap junction family member discovered in 2000. Recent studies indicate that pannexin protein can form hemichannel on the membrane or intercellular gap junction channel. Many investigations have demonstrated that pannexin channels are not only involved in ATP release, blood flow regulation, taste perception, immune response, and the initiation and propagation of Ca2＋ waves in physiology, but also responsible for inflammatory diseases, tumor, brain ischemia, seizure, as well as heart failure. With the intensive researches in pannexin, more important functions will be discovered.