Differential regulation of connexin43 and connexin37 in endothelial cells by cell density, growth, and TGF-beta1.

We studied the growth-related expression of the gap junction proteins connexin43 (Cx43) and connexin37 (Cx37) to characterize mechanisms of their differential regulation in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. During growth to confluency, Cx43 mRNA levels were high in subconfluent cells and decreased at confluency; Cx37 mRNA was weakly detectable until the cultures became confluent, when Cx37 levels became similar to those of Cx43. Immunoprecipitation, immunoblots, and immunostaining demonstrated that Cx43 synthesis and content paralleled the changes in mRNA levels. These data suggested regulation of connexin expression related to growth status or cell density. We tested this hypothesis by inhibiting growth with transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). TGF-beta1 treatment caused an upregulation of Cx43 synthesis, content, and apparent half-life and an upregulation of mRNA, independent of changes in cell density. Increases in Cx43 synthesis preceded increases in mRNA, suggesting both translational and transcriptional regulation, whereas the increased half-life suggested post-translational regulation, as well. Immunostaining revealed the development of intense vesicular staining in the treated cells, which may explain the increased half-life. TGF-beta1 treatment also suppressed the upregulation of Cx37 expression. These alterations in connexin expression may have implications for endothelial communication under conditions of elevated vascular TGF-beta1 concentrations such as in wound healing.