Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA.
Lymphology. 2011 Sep;44(3):95-102.
This article reviews recent findings on expression and function of connexin proteins--the structural subunits of gap junction intercellular channels in the lymphatic vasculature--both during development and in the mature lymphatic vessel. Highlighted in particular are recent mouse connexin knockout studies which show that connexins are crucial for normal lymphatic development. We discuss, in general terms, both channel-dependent as well as channel-independent functions of connexins and raise some of the many unanswered questions about the mechanism(s) of action and physiological roles of connexins in the lymphatic vasculature.
本文综述了近年来关于连接蛋白(淋巴管腔隙细胞间缝隙连接的结构亚单位)在淋巴管发育和成熟过程中的表达和功能的研究进展。特别强调了最近的小鼠连接蛋白敲除研究,这些研究表明连接蛋白对于正常淋巴管发育至关重要。我们一般性地讨论了连接蛋白的通道依赖性和非通道依赖性功能,并提出了许多关于连接蛋白在淋巴管中的作用机制和生理作用的未解决问题。