Connexin 25 maintains self-renewal and functions of airway basal cells for airway regeneration.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The formation of stem cell clones enables close contact of stem cells inside. The gap junctions in such clone spheres establish a microenvironment that allows frequent intercellular communication to maintain self-renewal and functions of stem cells. Nevertheless, the essential gap junction protein for molecular signaling in clones is poorly known.

Methods

Primary human airway basal cells (hBCs) were isolated from brushing samples through bronchoscopy and then cultured. A tightly focused femtosecond laser was used to excite the local Ca²⁺ in an individual cell to initiate an internal Ca²⁺ wave in a clone to screen gap junction proteins. Immunoflourescence staining and clonogenicity assay were used to evaluate self-renewal and functions. RNA an

SUBMITTER: Zhang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11389295 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature