Cx40 is required for, and cx37 limits, postischemic hindlimb perfusion, survival and recovery.

ABSTRACT:

Background/aims

Ischemia induced by large-vessel obstruction or vascular injury induces a complex cascade of vasodilatory, remodeling and inflammatory pathways; coordination of these processes by vascular endothelium is likely to involve endothelial gap junctions. Vascular endothelium predominantly expresses two connexin (Cx) isoforms: Cx37 and Cx40. The relevance of these Cxs to postischemic limb recovery remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, we use a well-established, severe femoral-saphenous artery-vein pair resection model of unilateral hindlimb ischemia to test the relevance of Cx37 and Cx40 to postischemic tissue survival and recovery of limb perfusion.

Results

Cx40-deficient animals (Cx40-/-) experienced a severe reduction in limb perfusion relative to wild-t

SUBMITTER: Fang JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3221267 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature