Objective This review discusses the experimental and clinical studies those show the expression of connexin 36 in the central nervous system and the possible role of connexin 36 in epileptic seizure. Data sources All ...Objective This review discusses the experimental and clinical studies those show the expression of connexin 36 in the central nervous system and the possible role of connexin 36 in epileptic seizure. Data sources All articles used in this review were mainly searched from PubMed published in English from 1996 to 2012. Study selection Original articles and reviews were selected if they were related to the expression of connexin 36 in the central nervous system and its role in epilepsy. Results The distribution of connexin 36 is developmentally regulated, cell-specific and region-specific. Connexin 36 is involved in some neuronal functions and epileptic synchronization. Changes in the connexin 36 gene and protein were accompanied by seizures. Selective gap junction blockers have exerted anticonvulsant actions in a variety of experiments examined in both humans and experimental animals. Conclusions Connexin 36 plays an important role in both physiological and pathological conditions in the central nervous system. A better understanding of the role of connexin 36 in seizure activity may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches to treating epilepsy.展开更多
Background:More than ten genome-wide association studies have identified the significant association between the gap junction delta-2 (GJD2) gene and myopia.However,no functional studies have been performed to confirm...Background:More than ten genome-wide association studies have identified the significant association between the gap junction delta-2 (GJD2) gene and myopia.However,no functional studies have been performed to confirm that this gene is correlated with myopia.This study aimed to observe how this gene changed in mRNA and protein level in the form-deprivation myopia (FDM) animal model.Methods:Four-week-old guinea pigs were randomly divided into two groups:control and FDM groups (n =12 for each group).The right eyes of the FDM group were covered with opaque hemispherical plastic lenses for 3 weeks.For all the animals,refractive status,axial length (AL),and corneal radius of curvature were measured at baseline and 3 weeks later by streak retinoscope,A-scan ultrasonography,and keratometer,respectively.Retinal GJD2 mRNA expression and connexin 36 (Cx36) levels in FDM and control groups were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analyses,respectively.Those results were compared using independent t test,Mann-Whitney U test,or paired t test.A significance level of P < 0.05 was used.Results:Three weeks later,the FDM group (form-deprived eyes) showed about a myopic shift of approximately-6.75 (-7.94 to -6.31) D,while the control group remained hyperopic with only a shift of-0.50 (-0.75 to 0.25) D (Z =-3.38,P < 0.01).The AL increased by 0.74 (0.61-0.76) and 0.10 (0.05-0.21) mm in FDM and control groups,respectively (Z =-3.37,P < 0.01).The relative mRNA expression of GJD2 in the FDM group decreased 31.58% more than the control group (t =11.44,P < 0.01).The relative protein expression of CX36 on the retina was lowered by 37.72% in form-deprivation eyes as compared to the controls (t=17.74,P < 0.01).Conclusion:Both the mRNA expression of GJD2 and Cx36 protein amount were significantly decreased in the retina of FDM guinea pigs.This indicates that Cx36 is involved in FDM development,providing compensating evidence for the results obtained from genome-wide association studies.展开更多
基金This study was supported by a grant of the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 30971534）.
文摘Objective This review discusses the experimental and clinical studies those show the expression of connexin 36 in the central nervous system and the possible role of connexin 36 in epileptic seizure. Data sources All articles used in this review were mainly searched from PubMed published in English from 1996 to 2012. Study selection Original articles and reviews were selected if they were related to the expression of connexin 36 in the central nervous system and its role in epilepsy. Results The distribution of connexin 36 is developmentally regulated, cell-specific and region-specific. Connexin 36 is involved in some neuronal functions and epileptic synchronization. Changes in the connexin 36 gene and protein were accompanied by seizures. Selective gap junction blockers have exerted anticonvulsant actions in a variety of experiments examined in both humans and experimental animals. Conclusions Connexin 36 plays an important role in both physiological and pathological conditions in the central nervous system. A better understanding of the role of connexin 36 in seizure activity may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches to treating epilepsy.
文摘Background:More than ten genome-wide association studies have identified the significant association between the gap junction delta-2 (GJD2) gene and myopia.However,no functional studies have been performed to confirm that this gene is correlated with myopia.This study aimed to observe how this gene changed in mRNA and protein level in the form-deprivation myopia (FDM) animal model.Methods:Four-week-old guinea pigs were randomly divided into two groups:control and FDM groups (n =12 for each group).The right eyes of the FDM group were covered with opaque hemispherical plastic lenses for 3 weeks.For all the animals,refractive status,axial length (AL),and corneal radius of curvature were measured at baseline and 3 weeks later by streak retinoscope,A-scan ultrasonography,and keratometer,respectively.Retinal GJD2 mRNA expression and connexin 36 (Cx36) levels in FDM and control groups were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analyses,respectively.Those results were compared using independent t test,Mann-Whitney U test,or paired t test.A significance level of P < 0.05 was used.Results:Three weeks later,the FDM group (form-deprived eyes) showed about a myopic shift of approximately-6.75 (-7.94 to -6.31) D,while the control group remained hyperopic with only a shift of-0.50 (-0.75 to 0.25) D (Z =-3.38,P < 0.01).The AL increased by 0.74 (0.61-0.76) and 0.10 (0.05-0.21) mm in FDM and control groups,respectively (Z =-3.37,P < 0.01).The relative mRNA expression of GJD2 in the FDM group decreased 31.58% more than the control group (t =11.44,P < 0.01).The relative protein expression of CX36 on the retina was lowered by 37.72% in form-deprivation eyes as compared to the controls (t=17.74,P < 0.01).Conclusion:Both the mRNA expression of GJD2 and Cx36 protein amount were significantly decreased in the retina of FDM guinea pigs.This indicates that Cx36 is involved in FDM development,providing compensating evidence for the results obtained from genome-wide association studies.
