These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Astrocytic p-connexin 43 regulates neuronal autophagy in the hippocampus following traumatic brain injury in rats.
    Author: Sun LQ, Gao JL, Cui CM, Cui Y, Jing XB, Zhao MM, Wang YC, Tian YX, Wang KJ, Cui JZ.
    Journal: Mol Med Rep; 2014 Jan; 9(1):77-82. PubMed ID: 24220542.
    Abstract:
    Gap junctions are conductive channels formed by membrane proteins termed connexins, which permit the intercellular exchange of metabolites, ions and small molecules. Previous data demonstrated that traumatic brain injury (TBI) activates autophagy and increases microtubule‑associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) immunostaining predominantly in neurons. Although previous studies have identified several extracellular factors that modulate LC3 expression, knowledge of the regulatory network controlling LC3 in health and disease remains incomplete. The aim of the present study was to assess whether gap junctions control the in vivo expression of LC3 in TBI. Using a modified weight‑drop device, adult male Sprague‑Dawley rats (weight, 350‑375 g) were subjected to TBI. Phosphorylated gap junction protein levels and LC3‑Ⅱ levels were quantified using western blot analysis. The spatial distribution of immunoreactivity for phosphorylated connexin 43 (p‑CX43) and LC3‑Ⅱ was analyzed by immunofluorescence. The results showed that p‑CX43 expression in the hippocampus reached a maximum level 6 h following injury. In addition, the immunoreactivity of p‑CX43 was localized in the astrocytes surrounding pyramidal neurons. The LC3‑Ⅱ protein content remained at high levels 24 h following injury. Double immunolabeling demonstrated that LC3‑II dots colocalized with the hippocampus pyramidal neurons. Furthermore, inhibition of p‑CX43 reduced TBI‑induced autophagy, according to western blot analysis. As astrocytic gap junction coupling is affected in various forms of brain injury, the results suggest that point gap junctions/connexins are important regulators of autophagy in the hippocampal neurons following TBI.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]