Blockade of Glial Connexin 43 Hemichannels Reduces Food Intake

Connexin 43 hemichannels are permeable to ATP.

Astrocytes are electrically nonexcitable cells that communicate by means of Ca(2+) signaling. Long-distance intercellular Ca(2+) waves are initiated by release of ATP and activation of purinergic receptors on nearby cells. Previous studies have implicated connexin 43 (Cx43) in ATP release, but definitive proof that ATP exits through Cx43 hemichannels does not exist. Here, through several altern...

Connexin 43 Hemichannels and Pharmacotherapy of Myocardial Ischemia Injury

Gating and regulation of connexin 43 (Cx43) hemichannels.

Connexin 43 (Cx43) nonjunctional or "unapposed" hemichannels can open under physiological or pathological conditions. We characterize hemichannels comprised of Cx43 or Cx43-EGFP (Cx43 with enhanced GFP fused to the C terminus) expressed in HeLa cells. Channel opening was induced at potentials greater than +60 mV. Open probability appeared to be very low. No comparable opening was detected in th...

Connexin 43 hemichannels and intracellular signaling in bone cells

Cell function and survival are controlled by intracellular signals, and modulated by surrounding cells and the extracellular environment. Connexin channels participate in these processes by mediating cell-to-cell communication. In bone cells, gap junction channels were detected in the early 1970s, and are present among bone resorbing osteoclasts, bone forming osteoblasts, and osteocytes - matur...

14-3-3h facilitates plasma membrane delivery and function of mechanosensitive connexin 43 hemichannels

Intracellular signaling in osteocytes activated by mechanical loading is important for bone formation and remodeling. These signaling events are mediated by small modulators released from Cx43 hemichannels (HC). We have recently shown that integrin a5 senses the mechanical stimulation and induces the opening of Cx43 HC; however, the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, we show that both Cx43 ...