[Changes of phosphorylation states of Cx43 protein in CCL-64 cells induced by SiO2].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the cellular gap junctional communication(GJIC) down-regulation in alveolar epithelial cells (CCL-64 cells) induced by silica-stimulated pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) supernatant is related with the phosphorylation states of connexin 43(Cx43) protein.

METHOD

Western-blot analysis was used to identify phosphorylated Cx43 species.

RESULTS

Western-blot analyses of SiO2- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(TPA)-treated CCL-64 cells showed the same phosphorylation states of Cx43 as the control group. There were no Cx43 protein in nucleus of CCL-64 cells.

CONCLUSION

The inhibition on GJIC induced by SiO2 and TPA in CCL-64 cells may not be brought about by altering the phosphorylation states of Cx43.