Journal
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
Volume 62, Issue 2, Pages 335-344Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1016/j.cardiores.2003.12.017
Keywords
connexin; ischemia; reperfusion; preconditioning
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Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the essential protein to form hemichannels and gap junctions in the myocardium. The phosphorylation status of Cx43 which is regulated by a variety of protein kinases and phosphatases determines hemichannel and/or gap junction conductance and permeability. Gap junctions are involved in cell-cell coupling while hemichannels contribute to cardiomyocyte volume regulation. Cx43-formed channels are involved in ischemia/reperfusion injury, since blockade of a large portion of Cx43-formed channels attenuates ischemic hypercontracture, infarct development and post myocardial infarction remodeling. Ischemic preconditioning's protection also depends on functional Cx43-formed channels, since uncoupling of channels or genetic Cx43 deficiency abolishes infarct size reduction by ischemic preconditioning. The exact underlying mechanism(s) how Cx43 mediates protection remain to be established. (C) 2004 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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