Connexin 43 Hemichannel Activity Promoted by Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and High Glucose Alters Endothelial Cell Function.

ABSTRACT: The present work was done to elucidate whether hemichannels of a cell line derived from endothelial cells are affected by pro-inflammatory conditions (high glucose and IL-1β/TNF-α) known to lead to vascular dysfunction. We used EAhy 926 cells treated with high glucose and IL-1β/TNF-α. The hemichannel activity was evaluated with the dye uptake method and was abrogated with selective inhibitors or knocking down of hemichannel protein subunits with siRNA. Western blot analysis, cell surface biotinylation, and confocal microscopy were used to evaluate total and plasma membrane amounts of specific proteins and their cellular distribution, respectively. Changes in intracellular Ca²⁺ and nitric oxide (NO) signals were estimated by measuring FURA-2 and DAF-FM probes, respectively. High

SUBMITTER: Saez JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6104120 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature