Disease relevance of PANX1

• Pannexin also may participate in pathological reactions of the neural cells, including their damage after ischemia and subsequent cell death [1].

High impact information on PANX1

• Pannexin 1 in erythrocytes: function without a gap [2].
• In paired oocytes, Px1, alone and in combination with Px2, induces the formation of intercellular channels [3].
• In many neuronal cell populations, including hippocampus, olfactory bulb, cortex and cerebellum, there is coexpression of both pannexins, whereas in other brain regions, e.g., white matter, only Px1-positive cells were found [3].
• Pannexin-1 Couples to Maitotoxin- and Nigericin-induced Interleukin-1beta Release through a Dye Uptake-independent Pathway [4].
• Pannexin-1 is a recently identified membrane protein that can act as a nonselective pore permeable to dyes such as ethidium when ectopically expressed [4].

Biological context of PANX1

• Both the human and mouse genomes contain three pannexin-encoding genes [5].
• So far three pannexins were described in rodent and human genomes: Panx1, Panx2 and Panx3 [1].
• We examined properties and tissue distribution of Panx1 isoforms by Western blot analysis [6].
• Based on its properties, including ATP permeability, pannexin 1 may be involved in both initiation and propagation of calcium waves [7].

Anatomical context of PANX1

• We have cloned the genes PANX1, PANX2 and PANX3, encoding putative gap junction proteins homologous to invertebrate innexins, which constitute a new family of mammalian proteins called pannexins [5].
• Recent study revealed non-gap junction function of Panx1 hemichannels in erythrocytes, where they serve as the conduits for the ATP release in response to the osmotic stress [1].
• Immunohistochemistry revealed Panx1-specific punctuate labeling in the plasma membrane, and intensive labeling of the organelles in the epithelial and immature fiber cells [6].
• In addition, we detected Panx1 immunoreactivity in blood endothelial cells of the tunica vasculosa lentis capillaries and in blood erythrocytes [6].
• RESULTS: Panx1 and Panx2 expression peaked in lens epithelial cells prior to differentiation [6].

Associations of PANX1 with chemical compounds

• Consistent with a role of pannexin 1 as an ATP release channel, ATP release by erythrocytes was attenuated by the gap junction blocker carbenoxolone [2].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of PANX1

• Expression of the Panx1 and Panx2 members of the pannexin family of gap junction proteins was studied in the retina by in situ hybridization and qRT-PCR [8].
• Immunohistochemistry was used to visualize lens regions that accumulate Panx1 to study intercellular localization and spatial relationship with lens connexin gap junctions [6].
• METHODS: Panx1 and Panx2 expression was studied by in situ hybridization and quantitative RT-PCR [6].

References