The Role of Connexin Hemichannels in Inflammatory Diseases
The connexin protein family consists of approximately 20 members, and is well recognized as the structural unit of the gap junction channels that perforate the plasma membranes of coupled cells and, thereby, mediate intercellular communication. Gap junctions are assembled by two preexisting hemichan...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/2/237 |
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| author | Bo Peng Chengping Xu Shuaiwei Wang Yijie Zhang Wei Li |
| author_facet | Bo Peng Chengping Xu Shuaiwei Wang Yijie Zhang Wei Li |
| author_sort | Bo Peng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The connexin protein family consists of approximately 20 members, and is well recognized as the structural unit of the gap junction channels that perforate the plasma membranes of coupled cells and, thereby, mediate intercellular communication. Gap junctions are assembled by two preexisting hemichannels on the membranes of apposing cells. Non-junctional connexin hemichannels (CxHC) provide a conduit between the cell interior and the extracellular milieu, and are believed to be in a protectively closed state under physiological conditions. The development and characterization of the peptide mimetics of the amino acid sequences of connexins have resulted in the development of a panel of blockers with a higher selectivity for CxHC, which have become important tools for defining the role of CxHC in various biological processes. It is increasingly clear that CxHC can be induced to open by pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The opening of CxHC facilitates the release of damage-associated molecular patterns, a class of endogenous molecules that are critical for the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The blockade of CxHC leads to attenuated inflammation, reduced tissue injury and improved organ function in human and animal models of about thirty inflammatory diseases and disorders. These findings demonstrate that CxHC may contribute to the intensification of inflammation, and serve as a common target in the treatments of various inflammatory diseases. In this review, we provide an update on the progress in the understanding of CxHC, with a focus on the role of these channels in inflammatory diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:35:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b83c54b9eb1d49668dcd913a79f23a4a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:35:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b83c54b9eb1d49668dcd913a79f23a4a2023-11-23T18:50:10ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372022-02-0111223710.3390/biology11020237The Role of Connexin Hemichannels in Inflammatory DiseasesBo Peng0Chengping Xu1Shuaiwei Wang2Yijie Zhang3Wei Li4Sepsis Laboratory, Center for Translational Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng 475000, ChinaSepsis Laboratory, Center for Translational Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng 475000, ChinaSepsis Laboratory, Center for Translational Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng 475000, ChinaSepsis Laboratory, Center for Translational Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng 475000, ChinaSepsis Laboratory, Center for Translational Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng 475000, ChinaThe connexin protein family consists of approximately 20 members, and is well recognized as the structural unit of the gap junction channels that perforate the plasma membranes of coupled cells and, thereby, mediate intercellular communication. Gap junctions are assembled by two preexisting hemichannels on the membranes of apposing cells. Non-junctional connexin hemichannels (CxHC) provide a conduit between the cell interior and the extracellular milieu, and are believed to be in a protectively closed state under physiological conditions. The development and characterization of the peptide mimetics of the amino acid sequences of connexins have resulted in the development of a panel of blockers with a higher selectivity for CxHC, which have become important tools for defining the role of CxHC in various biological processes. It is increasingly clear that CxHC can be induced to open by pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The opening of CxHC facilitates the release of damage-associated molecular patterns, a class of endogenous molecules that are critical for the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The blockade of CxHC leads to attenuated inflammation, reduced tissue injury and improved organ function in human and animal models of about thirty inflammatory diseases and disorders. These findings demonstrate that CxHC may contribute to the intensification of inflammation, and serve as a common target in the treatments of various inflammatory diseases. In this review, we provide an update on the progress in the understanding of CxHC, with a focus on the role of these channels in inflammatory diseases.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/2/237gap junctionsconnexin hemichannelmimetic peptideinnate immune cellssepsisischemia |
| spellingShingle | Bo Peng Chengping Xu Shuaiwei Wang Yijie Zhang Wei Li The Role of Connexin Hemichannels in Inflammatory Diseases Biology gap junctions connexin hemichannel mimetic peptide innate immune cells sepsis ischemia |
| title | The Role of Connexin Hemichannels in Inflammatory Diseases |
| title_full | The Role of Connexin Hemichannels in Inflammatory Diseases |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Connexin Hemichannels in Inflammatory Diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Connexin Hemichannels in Inflammatory Diseases |
| title_short | The Role of Connexin Hemichannels in Inflammatory Diseases |
| title_sort | role of connexin hemichannels in inflammatory diseases |
| topic | gap junctions connexin hemichannel mimetic peptide innate immune cells sepsis ischemia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/2/237 |
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