Disease relevance of Gja4

• In the present study, we tested whether the polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligation and perforation in the rat alters the expression of the connexins present in the vascular endothelium (i.e., Cx37, Cx40, and Cx43) [1].
• Study results showed ipsilaterally increased connexin 37 mRNA levels proximally and distally in rat sciatic nerves after injury and behavioral thermal hyperalgesia at 7 and 14 days [2].
• We examined the role of gap junction protein connexin 37 in neuropathic hypersensitivity following peripheral nerve injury [2].
• Connexin 37 mutations in rat hepatic angiosarcomas induced by vinyl chloride [3].

High impact information on Gja4

• Cx37 proteins are detectable in endothelial cells of normal liver by immunohistochemical analysis, but none of the angiosarcomas showed Cx37-positive spots [3].
• The principal gap junction protein of intercellular communication, connexin, was investigated to determine the effects of high glucose concentrations on the expression of endothelial-specific connexins (Cx37, Cx40, and Cx43), connexin phosphorylation pattern, and GJIC activity [4].
• Unexpectedly, communication did not occur when oocytes expressing Cx40 were paired with those expressing Cx43, although each could interact with a different connexin, Cx37, to form gap junction channels in paired oocytes [5].
• Cx37 was localized by immunofluorescence to the endothelia of blood vessels in both mature and immature testes and was not further characterized [6].
• Results indicate that upregulation of connexin 37 mRNA following sciatic nerve injury correlates with subsequent thermal hyperalgesia, which suggests that gap junctions (connexin 37) are responsible for the hyperexcitability following peripheral nerve injury [2].

Biological context of Gja4

• Treatment with candesartan, but not the combination of hydralazine and hydrochlorothiazide, significantly increased the expression of Cx37 and Cx40, although blood pressure decreased similarly [7].
• Neuropathic pain relief correlated with downregulation of connexin 37 mRNA [2].
• We investigated endothelial gap junctions and their three component connexins, connexin37 (Cx37), Cx40, and Cx43, during growth and senescence in rat aorta by en face immunoconfocal microscopy and electron microscopy [8].

Anatomical context of Gja4

• These findings suggest that renin-angiotensin system blockade corrects the decreased expression of Cx37 and Cx40 in arterial endothelial cells of hypertensive rats, partly independently of blood pressure, whereas the expression of Cx43 changed in the opposite direction [7].
• CONCLUSIONS: The demonstration of Cx37 as the dominant Cx in the media of the CA highlights the potential heterogeneity in Cx involvement in vascular smooth muscle [9].
• OBJECTIVE: To determine the connexins (Cxs) involved in intercellular coupling within vascular muscle, the present study has quantified mRNA and protein expression for Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45 in the caudal artery (CA) and thoracic aorta (ThA) of the rat [9].
• Sciatic nerve connexin 37 mRNA increases were proportional to the extent of thermal hyperalgesia, but skin, muscle, and lumbar spinal cord connexin 37 mRNA showed no significant changes [2].
• The aim of the present study was to compare the expression of Cx37, 40 and 43 in the smooth muscle and endothelium of a large elastic artery and two smaller muscular arteries of the rat [10].

Other interactions of Gja4

• It remains to be clarified whether these changes in Cx37 and Cx40 are related to endothelial function, particularly that attributable to EDHF [7].
• Cx31.1 expression is restricted to superficial corneal epithelial cells, and Cx37 spans the intermediate corneal epithelium [11].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Gja4

• METHODS AND RESULTS: Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry identified Cx37 as the most abundantly expressed Cx in the CA, with fine punctate staining observed in the media [9].
• 2. Using immunohistochemistry, Cx37, 40 and 43 were found in the endothelium of the aorta, caudal and basilar arteries, with Cx43 being the least abundant [10].
• Quantitative RT-PCR indicates that Cx37, Cx45, and Cx46 are preferentially expressed during early renal development [12].

References