Foundation for Medical Research, Cardiology, 2nd Floor, University of Geneva, 64 Avenue de la Roseraie, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2012 Jan;13(1):17-26. doi: 10.2174/138920112798868638.
Connexins are members of a large family of transmembrane proteins that oligomerize to form connexons or hemichannels, and connexons of adjacent cells dock to make gap junction channels. These channels allow the exchange of ions and small metabolites between the cytosol and extracellular space, or between the cytosols of neighbouring cells. Connexins are important in cardiovascular physiology; they support conducted vascular responses and allow for coordinated contraction of the heart. Four main connexins are expressed in the cardiovascular system: Cx37, Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45. Their expression pattern is not uniform and depends on intrinsic and environmental factors. Significant changes in the expression pattern, the cellular localization and the opening of connexin channels have been described during the development of atherosclerosis and after ischemia and reperfusion. In this review, we provide an overview of the roles of different connexins in these pathologies.
间隙连接蛋白是一大类跨膜蛋白家族的成员，它们通过寡聚化形成连接子或半通道，相邻细胞的连接子对接形成间隙连接通道。这些通道允许细胞溶质和细胞外空间之间或相邻细胞的细胞溶质之间交换离子和小分子代谢物。间隙连接蛋白在心血管生理学中很重要；它们支持血管的传导反应，并允许心脏协调收缩。在心血管系统中表达四种主要的间隙连接蛋白：Cx37、Cx40、Cx43 和 Cx45。它们的表达模式不均匀，取决于内在和环境因素。在动脉粥样硬化的发展过程中和缺血再灌注后，已经描述了连接蛋白通道的表达模式、细胞定位和开放的显著变化。在这篇综述中，我们概述了不同的间隙连接蛋白在这些病理过程中的作用。
