title: Reversible down-regulation of connexin43 expression in acute cardiac allograft rejection.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that cardiac allograft dysfunction in acute cardiac rejection may be related, in part, to diminished expression of connexin43, a gap junction channel protein that facilitates intercellular communication and coordinates electrical and mechanical cardiac function. We measured connexin43 levels using quantitative confocal immunofluorescence microscopy of endocardial biopsies from heart transplant recipients with histologic evidence of either no rejection or acute cellular rejection. Expression of connexin43 diminished significantly during acute cellular rejection and returned to baseline levels following resolution of rejection. Reversible down-regulation of connexin43 may contribute to ventricular dysfunction in allograft rejection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Saffitz
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004699:Endocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018031:Connexin 43