• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권7호
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• pp.2987-2991
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• 2014

Connexin 43 is an important gap junction protein in vertebrates and is known for its tumor suppressive properties. Cx43 is abundantly expressed in the human intestinal epithelial cells and muscularis mucosae. To explore the role of Cx43 in the genesis of human colon cancer, we performed the expression analysis of Cx43 in 80 cases of histopathologically confirmed and clinically diagnosed human colon cancer samples and adjacent control tissue and assessed correlations with clinicopathological variables. Western blotting using anti-Cx43 antibody indicated that the expression of Cx43 was significantly down regulated (75%) in the cancer samples as compared to the adjacent control samples. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis of the tissue samples confirmed the down regulation of the Cx43 in the intestinal epithelial cells. Cx43 down regulation showed significant association (p<0.05) with the histological type and tumor invasion properties of the cancer. Our data demonstrated that loss of Cx43 may be an important event in colon carcinogenesis and tumor progression, providing significant insights about the tumor suppressive properties of the Cx43 and its potential as a diagnostic marker for colon cancer.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.349-357
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• 2016

The present research was chiefly designed to determine the effect of the treatment of estrogenic agonist, estradiol benzoate (EB), or antiandrogenic compound, flutamide (Flu), at the weaning age on the expression of connexin (Cx) isoforms in the caudal epididymis of adult male rat. Animals were subcutaneously administrated with a single shot of either EB at a low-dose ($0.015{\mu}g$ of EB/kg body weight (BW)) or a high-dose ($1.5{\mu}g$ of EB/kg BW) or Flu at a low-dose ($500{\mu}g$ of EB/kg BW) or a high-dose (5 mg of EB/kg BW). Expressional changes of Cx isoforms in the adult caudal epididymis were examined by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The treatment of a low-dose EB caused significant increases of Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx32, and Cx43 transcript levels but reduction of Cx31.1, Cx37, and Cx45 expression. Exposure to a high-dose EB resulted in very close responses observed in a low-dose EB treatment, except no significant expressional change of Cx37 and a significant induction of Cx40. Expression of all Cx isoforms, except Cx45, was significantly increased by a low-dose Flu treatment. Expressional increases of all Cx isoforms were detected by a high-dose Flu treatment. The current study demonstrates that a single exposure to estrogenic or antiandrogenic compound during the early postnatal developmental period is sufficient to disrupt normal expression of Cx isoforms in the adult caudal epididymis.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.69-77
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• 2015

Cell-cell direct communication through channel-forming molecules, connexin (Cx), is essential for a tissue to exchange signaling molecules between neighboring cells and establish unique functional characteristics during postnatal development. The corpus epididymis is a well-known androgen-responsive tissue and involves in proper sperm maturation. In the present research, it was attempted to determine if expression of Cx isoforms in the corpus epididymis in the adult is modulated by exposure to estrogenic or anti-androgenic compound during the early postnatal period. The neonatal male rats at 7 days of age were subcutaneously injected by estradiol benzoate (EB) at low-dose ($0.015{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) or high-dose ($1.5{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) or flutamide (Flu) at low-dose ($500{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) or high-dose (50 mg/kg body weight). The corpus epididymis collected at 4 months of age was subjected to evaluate expressional changes of Cx isoforms by quantitative real-time PCR. Treatment of low-dose EB resulted in increases of Cx32, Cx37, and Cx45 transcript levels, while exposure to high-dose EB decreased expression of Cx26, Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45. Treatments of Flu caused significant decreases of expression of all examined Cx isoforms, except Cx37 and Cx43 shown no expressional change with high-dose Flu treatment. These findings imply that expression of most Cx isoforms present in the corpus epididymis would be transcriptionally regulated by actions of androgen and/or estrogen during postnatal period.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.379-389
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• 2017

Connexin (Cx) involves in the regulation of various physiological functions of tissue by forming a channel, a gap junction which allows direct cell-cell communication, between adjacent cells. The effect of a single subcutaneous treatment of estradiol benzoate (EB) or flutamide (Flu) at the weaning age on the expression of Cx isoforms in the adult caput epididymis was evaluated in this research. Using quantitative real-time PCR analysis, a low-dose of EB [$0.015{\mu}g/kg$ body weight (BW)] caused significant decreases of Cx30.3, Cx32, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45 mRNA levels and no change of Cx26, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx37 transcript levels. The treatment of a high-dose EB ($1.5{\mu}g/kg\;BW$) resulted in reduced expression of Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx43, and Cx45 but increased expression of Cx37 and Cx40. Expression of all Cx isoforms examined, except Cx31, was significantly increased by the treatment of a low-dose Flu ($500{\mu}g/kg\;BW$). However, the treatment of a high-dose Flu (5 mg/kg BW) led significant expressional suppression of Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45 but an increase of Cx37 transcript level. With the comparison of previous findings, the expression of Cx isoforms in the adult epididymis after the exposure to EB or Flu is likely differentially regulated in regional-specific and/or exposed postnatal age-specific manner.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.203-217
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• 2019

The present study was designed to examine the effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction by cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) on the cardiac functions and morphology, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, myocardial antioxidants (superoxide dismutase [SOD] and glutathione [GSH]), and expression of heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 and connexin 43 (Cx-43) in myocardial muscles in isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction (MI). Thirty two adult male Sprague Dawely rats were divided into 4 groups (each 8 rats): normal control (NC) group, ISO group: received ISO at dose of 150 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 2 successive days; ISO + Trizma group: received (ISO) and Trizma (solvent of CoPP) at dose of 5 mg/kg i.p. injection 2 days before injection of ISO, with ISO at day 0 and at day 2 after ISO injections; and ISO + CoPP group: received ISO and CoPP at a dose of 5 mg/kg dissolved in Trizma i.p. injection as Trizma. We found that, administration of ISO caused significant increase in heart rate, corrected QT interval, ST segment, cardiac enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase-muscle/brain), cardiac HO-1, Hsp70 with significant attenuation in myocardial GSH, SOD, and Cx-43. On the other hand, administration of CoPP caused significant improvement in ECG parameters, cardiac enzymes, cardiac morphology; antioxidants induced by ISO with significant increase in HO-1, Cx-43, and Hsp70 expression in myocardium. In conclusions, we concluded that induction of HO-1 by CoPP ameliorates ISO-induced myocardial injury, which might be due to up-regulation of Hsp70 and gap junction protein (Cx-43).

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.147-153
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• 2004

The oocyte and its surrounding granulosa cells co-exist in a closed compartment called a follicle, although they receive many signals from other parts of the body. It is well established that the intercellular communications between the oocyte and granulosa cells are required for normal oocyte development and ovulation during folliculogenesis. Gap junctions are intercellular channels allowing the direct transmission of ions and small molecules between coupled cells. Several lines of studies have shown that multiple connexins (Cx, subunits of gap junction) are expressed in mammalian ovarian follicles. Among them, two major connexins Cx37 and Cx43 are expressed in different manner. While the gap junction channels formed by Cx37 are localized between the oocyte and encompassing granulosa cells, the intercellular channels by Cx43 are located between granulosa cells. In this review, I will summarize the general properties of gap junction channels and discuss their possible formation (or compatibility) of intercellular channels formed by the oocyte and granulosa cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.477-482
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• 2011

There are accumulating evidences suggesting that connexin (Cx), a gap junction channel-forming protein, acts as a growth suppressor in various cancer cells, and this effect is attributeed to the gap junction-mediated intercellular communication (GJIC). In order to characterize the relationship between the growth-arresting activity of Cx26 and its cytoplasmic localizations after expression, we linked a nuclear export signal (NES) sequence to Cx26 cDNA before transfecting into a rat breast cancer cell line. A confocal fluorescent microscopic observation revealed that the insertion of NES minimized the nuclear expression of Cx26, and increased its cytoplasmic expression, including plasma membrane junctions. Total cell counting and BrdUrd-labeling experiments showed that the growth of the breast cancer cells was inhibited by 74% upon transfection of Cx26-NES, whereas only 9% inhibition was observed with only Cx26 cDNA.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.115-122
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• 2001

난자와 난포세포는 gap junction channel을 통해 긴밀한 연락을 주고받음으로써 난자의 발달이나 난포의 성장에 영향을 미친다. 본 연구는 같은 크기의 난포에서 나온 난자라고 하여도 cumulus cell(난구세포)들이 붙어있는 상태가 다르다는 것을 관찰, 이렇게 난구세포와의 서로 다른 연결상태를 갖는 난자의 재질에 차이가 있을 것으로 가정하고, 난자의 competence와 이때 난자와 난구세포 사이의 cell-to-cell communication에 관여하는 gap junction protein인 connexin(CX) 37과 CX 43의 발현 정도가 어떤 상관관계가 있는지를 알아보고자 수행하였다. 생후 3주일 된 생쥐에 PMSG를 주입하고 48시간 후에 난소를 적출하여 난포를 450 $\mu\textrm{m}$ 이상(large)의 난포와 200～400 $\mu\textrm{m}$(small) 난포로 분리하여 그 난자를 얻었다. 난자에 난구세포가 compact하게 붙어있는 것은 intact로(L1, Sl), 난구세포가 어느 정도 붙어 있거나, 하나도 붙어있지 않은 것은 partial/denuded로 그룹을 나누었다(LPD. SPD). 각 그룹의 난자를 체외에서 성숙시키고, 수정시켜서 발달율을 비교하였다. 각각의 CX의 mRNA 발현을 RT-PCR과 in situ hybridization으로 비교하였다. intact와 denuded 난자의 비율은 큰 난포의 경우는 55%와45%의 비율로, 작은 난포의 경우는 30%와 70%의 비율로 난포가 작을수록 denude상태의 난자가 많이 나왔다. 어떤 경우의 난자는 체외 성숙율은 차이가 없이 모두 97%이상 성숙하였다. 그러나, 수정률에서는 차이를 보여서 intact한 난자에서 높은 수정율을 보였으며, SPD의 경우, 가장 낮은 수정ㆍ발달율을 보였다. 난자의 경우, 주로 발현되는 것은 CX 37이었으며, CX 43은 발현되지 않았다. 난구세포의 경우, CX 43이 가장 높게 발현하였고, 그 다음으로 CX 37이 관찰되었다. 본 실험 결과, 같은 발달크기의 난포라고 하더라도 그 안에 존재하는 난자의 상태는 난구세포와 얼마나 밀접한 cell-to-cell communication을 이루고 있느냐에 따라 영향을 받는다는 것을 확인하였다. 본 연구결과 다음과 같이 결론 내릴 수 있었다. 1)아직 발달이 끝나지 않은 난포에서 나온 미성숙난자라고 하여도 난구세포와 밀접한 연결을 갖는 경우 성숙난자와 거의 같은 능력을 갖고 있으며, 2) 난자와 난구세포간의 gap junctional communication은 heterotypic channel로 이루어지고, 3) 본 연구에서 관찰한 CX 43과 CX 37 두 종류만으로는 intact와 denuded의 차이점을 설명할 수 없었다.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.11-15
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• 2003

Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) plays a key role during development, process of tissue differentiation, and in maintenance of adult tissue homeostasis. Neural stem cells leading to formation of cell clusters termed 'neurospheres', can differentiate into neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. We investigated the expression levels and distribution of connexin43 (Cx43) and connexin32 (Cx32), abundant gap junctional protein in neural cells and in neurospheres isolated from rat fetus embryonic day (ED) 17. During differentiation of neurospheres, expression of Cx43 and 32 were increased time-dependently within 72 h, and then decreased at 7 day in western blot analysis. TPA-induced inhibition of GJIC was confirmed by decreased fluorescence by SL/DT assay, and induced hyperphosphorylation of Cx43 while no changes in Cx32 levels in western blot assay. Our results indicate that GJIC may be a crucial role in the differentiation of neuronal stem cell. And this GJIC can be inhibited by TPA through the hyperphosphorylation of Cx43.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.129-142
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• 2002

Epithelial-mesenchymal interaction plays a important role in cell growth and differentiation. This interaction is already well known to have an importance during the organ development as well as cell growth and differentiation. However, in vitro experimental model is not well developed to reproduce in vivo cellular microenvironment which provide a epithelial-mesenchymal interaction. Because conventional monolayer culture lacks epithelial-mensenchymal interaction, cultivated cells have an morphologic, biochemical, and functional characteristics differ from in vivo tissue. Moreover, it's condition is not able to induce cellular differention due to submerged culture condition. Therefore, the aims of this study were to develop and evaualte the in vitro experimental model that maintains epithelial-mesenchymal interaction by organotypic raft culture, and to characterize biologic properties of three-dimensionally reconstituted oral keratinocytes by histological and immunohistochemical analysis. The results were as follow; 1. Gingival keratinocytes reconstituted by three-dimensional organotypic culture revealed similar morphologic characteristics to biopsied patient specimen showing stratification, hyperkeratinosis, matutation of epithelial architecture. 2. Connective tissue structure was matured, and there is no difference during stratification period of epithelial 3-dimensional culture. 3. The longer of air-exposure culture on three-dimensionally reconstituted cells, the more epithelial maturation, increased epithelial thickness and surface keratinization 4. In reconstitued mucosa, the whole epidermis was positively stained by anti-involucrin antibody, and there is no difference according to air-exposured culture period. 5. The Hsp was expressed in the epithelial layer of three-dimensionally cultured cells, especially basal layer of epidermis. The change of Hsp expression was not significant by culture stratification. 6. Connexin 43, marker of cell-cell communication was revealed mild immunodeposition in reconstitued epithelium, and there is no significant expression change during stratification. These results suggest that three-dimensional oragnotypic co-culture of normal gingival keratinocytes with dermal equivalent consisting type I collagen and gingival fibroblasts results in similar morphologic and immunohistochemical characteristics to in vivo patient specimens. And this culture system seems to provide adequate micro-environment for in vitro tissue reconstitution. Therefore, further study will be focused to study of in vitro gingivitis model, development of novel perioodntal disease therapeutics and epithelial-mensenchymal interaction.