Enhanced phototoxicity of photodynamic treatment by Cx26-composed GJIC via ROS-, calcium- and lipid peroxide-mediated pathways

In spite of the promising initial treatment responses presented by photodynamic therapy (PDT), 5-year recurrence rates remain high level. Therefore, improvement in the efficacy of PDT is needed. There are reports showing that connexin-(Cx) 26-composed gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) enhances the intercellular propagation of death signal, thereby increasing chemotherapeutic cytotoxicity. However, it is unclear whether Cx26-formed GJIC has an effect on PDT phototoxicity. The results in the present study showed that Cx26-composed GJ formation at high density enhances the phototoxicity of Photofrin-PDT. When the Cx26 is not expressed or Cx26 channels are blocked, the phototoxicity in high-density cultures substantially reduces, indicating that the enhanced PDT phototoxicity at high density is mediated by Cx26-composed GJIC. The GJIC-mediated increase in PDT phototoxicity was associated with ROS, calcium and lipid peroxide-mediated stress signaling pathways. The work presents the ability of Cx26-composed GJIC to enhance the sensitivity of malignant cells to PDT, and indicates that maintenance or increase of Cx26-formed GJIC may be a profitable strategy towards the enhancement of PDT therapeutic efficiency.