title: Enhancement of gap junctional communication and connexin43 expression by thyroid hormones.
abstract: Cells in tissues coordinate their activity by sharing ions, second messengers, and small metabolites through clusters of intercellular channels called gap junctions. The thyroid hormones 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) and L-thyroxine (T4) are capable of modulating gap junctional communication (GJC) as are 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, retinoic acid, and other nuclear receptor ligands. T3 and T4 were found to stimulate GJC in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells dose-dependently at concentrations between 1 nM and 0.1 microM, assayed by the dye transfer method using Lucifer Yellow CH. The stimulation of cell-cell communication was preceded by an increase in connexin43 mRNA levels and was accompanied by an accumulation of connexin43 protein measurable 2 days after incubation with these compounds. These observations establish a novel role of thyroid hormones in the regulation of gap junctional intercellular communication via connexin43 gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologische Chemie I, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sies
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stahl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007546:Isoquinolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007546:Isoquinolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014284:Triiodothyronine; C017475:lucifer yellow; D013974:Thyroxine