Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
J Vasc Res. 2023;60(2):87-100. doi: 10.1159/000531035. Epub 2023 Jun 16.
Vascular system is a complex network in which different cell types and vascular segments must work in concert to regulate blood flow distribution and arterial blood pressure. Although paracrine/autocrine signaling is involved in the regulation of vasomotor tone, direct intercellular communication via gap junctions plays a central role in the control and coordination of vascular function in the microvascular network. Gap junctions are made up by connexin (Cx) proteins, and among the four Cxs expressed in the cardiovascular system (Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45), Cx40 has emerged as a critical signaling pathway in the vessel wall. This Cx is predominantly found in the endothelium, but it is involved in the development of the cardiovascular system and in the coordination of endothelial and smooth muscle cell function along the length of the vessels. In addition, Cx40 participates in the control of vasomotor tone through the transmission of electrical signals from the endothelium to the underlying smooth muscle and in the regulation of arterial blood pressure by renin-angiotensin system in afferent arterioles. In this review, we discuss the participation of Cx40-formed channels in the development of cardiovascular system, control and coordination of vascular function, and regulation of arterial blood pressure.
血管系统是一个复杂的网络，其中不同的细胞类型和血管节段必须协同工作，以调节血流分布和动脉血压。虽然旁分泌/自分泌信号参与血管舒缩张力的调节，但通过缝隙连接进行的直接细胞间通讯在微血管网络中血管功能的控制和协调中起着核心作用。缝隙连接由连接蛋白 (Cx) 组成，在心血管系统中表达的四种 Cx（Cx37、Cx40、Cx43 和 Cx45）中，Cx40 已成为血管壁中重要的信号通路。这种 Cx 主要存在于内皮细胞中，但它参与了心血管系统的发育以及沿血管长度内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞功能的协调。此外，Cx40 通过将电信号从内皮细胞传递到下面的平滑肌来参与血管舒缩张力的控制，并通过肾素-血管紧张素系统调节入球小动脉的动脉血压。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了 Cx40 形成的通道在心血管系统发育、血管功能的控制和协调以及动脉血压调节中的参与。
