Meda P
Département de Physiologie Cellulaire et Métabolisme, Université de Genève, Faculté de Médecine, Suisse.
Bull Mem Acad R Med Belg. 2010;165(10-12):419-25; discussion 426-8.
The appearance of multicellular organisms implicated the development of several mechanisms of communication, which permit the cells to function in coordination. One of the mechanisms found in all tissues of vertebrates is ensured by the proteins of the connexin family. These integral membrane proteins form channels, which allow for the passage ofcytosolic molecules either between adjacent cells or between the cytosol of these cells and the extracellular environment. We have identified connexin 36 (Cx36) as the sole connexin that functionally links ("couples") the beta-cells which produce insulin within pancreatic islets. In vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that Cx36 and/or the intercellular communications to allow play a role in the control of insulin secretion as well as in the resistance of beta-cells against various aggressions, including those induced by the cytokines that are implicated in diabetes. A polymorphism of Cx36 gene is associated to certain forms of human diabetes, opening the possibility that a therapy targeting this protein may be useful in the treatment of diabetic diseases.
多细胞生物的出现意味着多种通讯机制的发展，这些机制使细胞能够协同发挥作用。连接蛋白家族的蛋白质确保了在脊椎动物所有组织中发现的一种机制。这些整合膜蛋白形成通道，允许胞质分子在相邻细胞之间或这些细胞的胞质溶胶与细胞外环境之间通过。我们已经确定连接蛋白36（Cx36）是唯一在功能上连接（“耦合”）胰岛内产生胰岛素的β细胞的连接蛋白。体外和体内实验表明，Cx36和/或所允许的细胞间通讯在胰岛素分泌的控制以及β细胞对各种侵害（包括由与糖尿病有关的细胞因子诱导的侵害）的抗性中发挥作用。Cx36基因的多态性与某些形式的人类糖尿病相关，这使得针对该蛋白的疗法可能对糖尿病疾病的治疗有用。
