Juan C Saez

..Taken together, the data indicate that hemichannels are gated by multiple mechanisms that independently or cooperatively affect their open probability under physiological as well as pathological conditions...

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..Cx43 hemichannels may be a novel therapeutic target to reduce cell death following stroke, particularly in hyperglycemic conditions...

..It also establishes that Cx43 hemichannels can be rapidly activated under physiological conditions by the sequential activation of glucosensing proteins in normal tanycytes...

..Increased levels of connexin43 and connexin45 protein and mRNA accompanied the appearance of cellular coupling. These studies provide demonstration of connexin expression and regulation by specific danger signals in DCs...

..These findings suggest that lowering intracellular redox potential increases the opening of Cx43 and Cx43-EGFP hemichannels, possibly by action on cytoplasmic cysteine residues in the connexin C terminus...

..Therefore, blockade of hemichannels expressed by glial cells and/or neurons during neuroinflammation might prevent neurodegeneration...

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..Accordingly, this opposite regulation may affect glucose trafficking and certainly will modify the metabolic status of astrocytes involved in brain inflammation...

..These results demonstrate an important role for GJ communication in leukocyte adhesion and transmigration during acute inflammation in vivo and further suggest that endothelial Cx43 is key in these processes...

..Since LA is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid, its effect on HCs might be relevant to cell growth as well as to cellular functions of differentiated cells such as audition...

..The functional consequence of variation in cell-cell communication via these membrane channels is implicated in disease as well as normal cellular responses...

..Thus, the expression of Cx45 and Cx43 is upregulated during skeletal muscle regeneration and Cx43 is required for normal myogenesis in vitro and adult muscle regeneration in vivo...

..The cell density of Cx26 and Cx43 HeLa transfectants cultured in serum-free medium was differentially affected by FGF-1. Thus, the FGF-1-induced cell permeabilization and derived consequences depend on the Cx composition of HCs...

..Thus hepatocyte gap junctions are downregulated in forms of cholestasis associated with inflammation, and reduced intercellular communication might be induced in part by proinflammatory mediators...

..Here, we review evidence supporting the role of Ca(2+) in the regulation of GJCs and HCs formed by connexins. Also it is speculated how these connexin-based channels could contribute to the propagation of intercellular Ca(2+) signals...

..Thus, competitive inhibition of permeation through hemichannels might contribute to cellular retention of essential molecules and/or uptake inhibition of toxic compounds...

..These results strongly suggest that functional gap junctions assemble at the interface between DCs and T cells during Ag presentation and that they play an essential role in T cell activation...

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..Consequently, this work opens novel avenues for alternative treatments that target glial cells and neurons to maintain neuronal survival in the presence of Aβ...

..We propose that some monocyte/macrophage responses are coordinated by connexin-formed membrane channels expressed transiently at inflammatory sites in which these cells form aggregates...

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..These changes are likely to occur in diverse cell types of the CNS and contribute to neurodegeneration during inflammatory process...

..These studies identify a membrane pathway for Ca(2+) influx and provide a potential explanation for the activation of cellular events induced by extracellular alkalinization...

..These results suggest that GJs formed between hDCs used in cancer vaccination protocols could be essentials for the establishment of a more efficient antitumor response...

..Although the available in vitro evidence is substantial, further studies and possibly new experimental approaches are required to understand the role and properties of connexin and pannexin hemichannels in vivo...

..Therefore, blocking hemichannels expressed by glial cells and/or neurons of the inflamed central nervous system might prevent neurovascular unit dysfunction and neurodegeneration...

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..Our results indicate that Cx43-containing gap junctions are required for normal skeletal muscle terminal differentiation. These channels might provide a pathway for the intercellular transfer of signals involved in myogenesis...

..Consequently, inhibition of connexin hemichannels expressed by injured or denervated skeletal muscles might reduce or prevent deleterious changes triggered by conditions that promote muscle atrophy...

..Thus, a hitherto unsuspected route was uncovered connecting the extrinsic to the intrinsic pathway to amplify death signals emanating from the Fas receptor in type II cells...

..Thus HC blockade could reduce the increase in free [Ca(2+)](i) and cell death induced by ischemia-like conditions in cells expressing Cx32 HCs...

..Alternatively, dying astrocytes might compromise the health of neighboring cells via Cx43 gap junctions, thereby promoting the propagation of cell death...

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..We hypothesized that conditions that partially mimic the chemical environment of inflammatory foci induce the expression of functional gap junctions (GJs) between cultured PMNs...

..The observed phenotypes range from specific tissue dysfunction to embryonic lethality...