BACKGROUND: Gap junctional intercellular communication is thought to play an important role in the maintenance of cell differentiation and homeostasis. Gap junctions connect glomerular mesangial cells to each other. In this study, we examined the glomerular expression of connexins (Cxs) 40 and 43 at both the protein and transcript levels in anti-Thy1.1 glomerulonephritis (GN). METHODS: Anti-Thy1.1 GN was induced by intravenous injection of anti-Thy1.1 monoclonal antibody 1-22-3. Cx protein expression was examined by immunofluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy, and Western blotting. Changes in mRNA levels were detected by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Cx40 was detected in mesangial cells in normal rat glomeruli; its expression was reduced on days 3 and 7 and recovered to normal on day 14 following GN induction. Cx43 was detected in mesangial cells and podocytes in normal rat glomeruli, and its expression did not change during the disease course of GN. Expression of Cx40 and Cx43 was also detected in extraglomerular mesangial cells; this expression did not change during the disease course. Opposing patterns of expression between Cx40 and smooth muscle actin (SMA) were observed with double-immunofluorescence labeling. SMA is a differentiation marker of mesangial cells; it is often expressed during proliferation but not under physiological conditions. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Cx40 expression in mesangial cells is related to mesangial cell regeneration. Thus, Cx expression regulation could be a therapeutic target for glomerular diseases.
BACKGROUND: Gap junctional intercellular communication is thought to play an important role in the maintenance of cell differentiation and homeostasis. Gap junctions connect glomerular mesangial cells to each other. In this study, we examined the glomerular expression of connexins (Cxs) 40 and 43 at both the protein and transcript levels in anti-Thy1.1 glomerulonephritis (GN). METHODS: Anti-Thy1.1 GN was induced by intravenous injection of anti-Thy1.1 monoclonal antibody 1-22-3. Cx protein expression was examined by immunofluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy, and Western blotting. Changes in mRNA levels were detected by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS:Cx40 was detected in mesangial cells in normal rat glomeruli; its expression was reduced on days 3 and 7 and recovered to normal on day 14 following GN induction. Cx43 was detected in mesangial cells and podocytes in normal rat glomeruli, and its expression did not change during the disease course of GN. Expression of Cx40 and Cx43 was also detected in extraglomerular mesangial cells; this expression did not change during the disease course. Opposing patterns of expression between Cx40 and smooth muscle actin (SMA) were observed with double-immunofluorescence labeling. SMA is a differentiation marker of mesangial cells; it is often expressed during proliferation but not under physiological conditions. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Cx40 expression in mesangial cells is related to mesangial cell regeneration. Thus, Cx expression regulation could be a therapeutic target for glomerular diseases.
Authors: N J Severs; S Rothery; E Dupont; S R Coppen; H I Yeh; Y S Ko; T Matsushita; R Kaba; D Halliday Journal: Microsc Res Tech Date: 2001-02-01 Impact factor: 2.769
Authors: Katharina Gerl; Lucile Miquerol; Vladimir T Todorov; Christian P M Hugo; Ralf H Adams; Armin Kurtz; Birgül Kurt Journal: Kidney Int Date: 2015-09-23 Impact factor: 10.612
Authors: Joost Willebrords; Sara Crespo Yanguas; Michaël Maes; Elke Decrock; Nan Wang; Luc Leybaert; Brenda R Kwak; Colin R Green; Bruno Cogliati; Mathieu Vinken Journal: Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol Date: 2016-07-07 Impact factor: 8.250