缝隙连接蛋白43与神经胶质瘤

Connexin43 and glioma

缝隙连接蛋白43(connexin43,Cx43)是中枢神经系统最丰富的缝隙连接蛋白(connexins,Cxs),主要在星形胶质细胞中表达;而在星形胶质细胞瘤(中枢神经系统最常见的肿瘤)中,Cx43表达量减少或缺失。许多研究表明,Cx43表达减少会促进神经胶质瘤细胞增殖。转染Cx43 cDNA于胶质瘤细胞后,其恶性表型逆转、生长速度减慢、致瘤性明显降低;胶质瘤细胞迁移能力却增强。除了Cx43形成的缝隙连接(gap junction,GJ)对神经胶质瘤有影响外,Cx43形成的半通道(hemichannels,HCs)及Cx43 C末端也起着重要的作用。

connexin43 is the most abundant connexin in the central nervous system and is mainly expressed in astrocytes.However,connexin43 is often reduced or absent in astrocytomas,the most common neoplasia in the central nervous system.Supported by a great deal of evidence,the decrease of connexin43 expression appears to be advantageous for proliferation of glioma cells.After transfected with connexin43 cDNA,some malignant phenotypes of glioma cells are altered;for example,growth rate and tumorigenicity are reduced,whereas their invasive ability is enhanced.In addition to gap junction,the hemichannels formed by connexin43 and the C-terminal of connexin43 also play an important role in glioma progression.