培养的内皮细胞中连接蛋白37、40和43表达的调节
Modulation of expression of Connexins 37, 40 and 43 in endothelial cells in culture.
作者信息
Zhuang Wenqing, Mitrou Nick G A, Kulak Steve, Cupples William A, Braam Branko
机构信息
Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
出版信息
Front Netw Physiol. 2024 Mar 15;4:1199198. doi: 10.3389/fnetp.2024.1199198. eCollection 2024.
Connexin (Cx) 37, 40, and 43 are implicated in vascular function, specifically in the electrical coupling of endothelial cells and vascular smooth-muscle cells. In the present study, we investigated whether factors implicated in vascular dysfunction can modulate the gene expression of Cx37, Cx40, and Cx43 and whether this is associated with changes in endothelial layer barrier function in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1). First, HMEC-1 were subjected to stimuli for 4 and 8 h. We tested their responses to DETA-NONOate, HO, high glucose, and angiotensin II, none of which relevantly affected the transcription of the connexin genes. Next, we tested inflammatory factors IL-6, interferon gamma (IFNγ), and TNFα. IFNγ (10 ng/mL) consistently induced Cx40 expression at 4 and 8 h to 10-20-fold when corrected for the control. TNFα and IL-6 resulted in small but significant depressions of Cx37 expression at 4 h. Two JAK inhibitors, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) (100-250 μM) and AG490 (100-250 μM), dose-dependently inhibited the induction of Cx40 expression by IFNγ. Subsequently, HMEC-1 were subjected to 10 ng/mL IFNγ for 60 h, and intercellular and transcellular impedance was monitored by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS). In response to IFNγ, junctional-barrier impedance increased more than cellular-barrier impedance; this was prevented by AG490 (5 μM). In conclusion, IFNγ can strongly induce Cx40 expression and modify the barrier properties of the endothelial cell membrane through the JAK/STAT pathway. Moreover, the Cx37, Cx40, and Cx43 expression in endothelial cells is stable and, apart from IFNγ, not affected by a number of factors implicated in endothelial dysfunction and vascular diseases.
连接蛋白(Cx)37、40和43与血管功能有关,特别是在内皮细胞和血管平滑肌细胞的电偶联方面。在本研究中,我们调查了与血管功能障碍相关的因素是否能调节Cx37、Cx40和Cx43的基因表达,以及这是否与人类微血管内皮细胞(HMEC-1)的内皮屏障功能变化有关。首先,将HMEC-1暴露于刺激物4小时和8小时。我们测试了它们对DETA-NO供体、羟基自由基(HO)、高糖和血管紧张素II的反应,这些物质均未对连接蛋白基因的转录产生相关影响。接下来,我们测试了炎症因子白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、干扰素γ(IFNγ)和肿瘤坏死因子α(TNFα)。与对照组相比,IFNγ(10 ng/mL)在4小时和8小时时持续诱导Cx40表达至10 - 20倍。TNFα和IL-6在4小时时导致Cx37表达出现小幅度但显著的降低。两种Janus激酶(JAK)抑制剂,表没食子儿茶素-3-没食子酸酯(EGCG)(100 - 250 μM)和AG490(100 - 250 μM),剂量依赖性地抑制IFNγ对Cx40表达的诱导。随后,将HMEC-1暴露于10 ng/mL IFNγ 60小时,并通过电场细胞基质阻抗传感(ECIS)监测细胞间和跨细胞阻抗。响应IFNγ时,并指连接屏障阻抗的增加超过细胞屏障阻抗;这被AG490(5 μM)所阻止。总之,IFNγ可通过JAK/信号转导和转录激活因子(STAT)途径强烈诱导Cx40表达并改变内皮细胞膜的屏障特性。此外,内皮细胞中Cx37、Cx40和Cx43的表达是稳定的,除了IFNγ外,不受许多与内皮功能障碍和血管疾病相关因素的影响。