biostudies-literatureRuch RJUniversity of Toledo deArce-Koch Memorial FoundationE175https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6406368biostudies-literatureUnknown11(2)Alterations in gap junctions and their protein components, connexins, have been associated with neoplastic transformation and drug resistance, and more recently have been shown to play important roles in cancer stem cells (CSCs). However, there is less knowledge of connexins and gap junctions in lung CSCs. To address this, Connexin43 (Cx43), the major human lung epithelial gap junction protein, was expressed ectopically in poorly expressing National Cancer Institute-125 (NCI-H125) metastatic human lung adenocarcinoma cells, and phenotypic characteristics of malignant cells and abundance of CSCs were evaluated. The ectopic expression of Cx43 resulted in the formation of functional gap junctions; a more epithelial morphology; reduced proliferation, invasion, colony formation, tumorsphere forCancersConnexin43 Suppresses Lung Cancer Stem Cells.PMC6406368I-124485-01Ruch RJfalseConnexin43 Suppresses Lung Cancer Stem Cells.Alterations in gap junctions and their protein components, connexins, have been associated with neoplastic transformation and drug resistance, and more recently have been shown to play important roles in cancer stem cells (CSCs). However, there is less knowledge of connexins and gap junctions in lung CSCs. To address this, Connexin43 (Cx43), the major human lung epithelial gap junction protein, was expressed ectopically in poorly expressing National Cancer Institute-125 (NCI-H125) metastatic human lung adenocarcinoma cells, and phenotypic characteristics of malignant cells and abundance of CSCs were evaluated. The ectopic expression of Cx43 resulted in the formation of functional gap junctions; a more epithelial morphology; reduced proliferation, invasion, colony formation, tumorsphere for2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Feb2026-07-17T01:17:09.72Z2019-08-04T08:36:59ZS-EPMC64063683071742110.3390/cancers11020175