Ueki T, Fujita M, Sato K, Asai K, Yamada K, Kato T
Department of Bioregulation Research, Nagoya City University Medical School, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan.
Neurosci Lett. 2001 Nov 2;313(1-2):53-6. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(01)02249-2.
Astrocytes are coupled via gap junction channels, predominantly formed by connexin-43 (Cx43), and contribute to neuronal function in the normal and diseased brain. In this study, we demonstrate that epidermal growth factor (EGF), applied to cortical astrocytes, results in a decrease in the expression of Cx43 mRNA and protein. We have further shown that the decrease is associated with the receptor tyrosine kinase pathway and the MEK inhibitor prevents EGF-stimulated down-regulation of Cx43 expression. These findings demonstrate a previously unknown function of EGF on cultured astrocytes, which may be relevant to the regulation of astrocytic growth and differentiation.
星形胶质细胞通过主要由连接蛋白43（Cx43）形成的缝隙连接通道相互连接，并在正常和患病大脑中对神经元功能发挥作用。在本研究中，我们证明，将表皮生长因子（EGF）应用于皮质星形胶质细胞会导致Cx43 mRNA和蛋白表达降低。我们进一步表明，这种降低与受体酪氨酸激酶途径有关，并且MEK抑制剂可阻止EGF刺激的Cx43表达下调。这些发现证明了EGF对培养的星形胶质细胞具有以前未知的功能，这可能与星形胶质细胞生长和分化的调节有关。
