The Cx43 Carboxyl-Terminal Mimetic Peptide αCT1 Protects Endothelial Barrier Function in a ZO1 Binding-Competent Manner.

ABSTRACT: The Cx43 carboxyl-terminus (CT) mimetic peptide, αCT1, originally designed to bind to Zonula Occludens 1 (ZO1) and thereby inhibit Cx43/ZO1 interaction, was used as a tool to probe the role of Cx43/ZO1 association in regulation of epithelial/endothelial barrier function. Using both in vitro and ex vivo methods of barrier function measurement, including Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS), a TRITC-dextran Transwell permeability assay, and a FITC-dextran cardiovascular leakage protocol involving Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts, αCT1 was found to protect the endothelium from thrombin-induced breakdown in cell-cell contacts. Barrier protection was accompanied by significant remodeling of the F-actin cytoskeleton, characterized by a redistribution of F-actin away from the cytopla

SUBMITTER: Strauss RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8393261 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature