title: The functional expression of connexin 43 in articular chondrocytes is increased by interleukin 1beta: evidence for a Ca2+-dependent mechanism.
abstract: Cell-to-cell interactions and gap junctions-dependent communication are crucially involved in chondrogenic differentiation, while in adult articular cartilage direct intercellular communication occurs mainly among chondrocytes facing the outer cartilage layer. Chondrocytes extracted from adult articular cartilage and grown in primary culture express connexin 43 and form functional gap junctions capable of sustaining the propagation of intercellular Ca2+ waves. Degradation of articular cartilage is a characteristic feature of arthritic diseases and is associated to increased levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in the synovial fluid. We have examined the effects of IL-1 on gap junctional communication in cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes. Incubation with IL-1 potentiated the transmission of intercellular Ca2+ waves and the intercellular transfer of Lucifer yellow. The stimulatory effect was accompanied by a dose-dependent increase in the expression of connexin 43 and by an enhanced connexin 43 immunostaining at sites of cell-to-cell contact. IL-1 stimulation induced a dose-dependent increase of cytosolic Ca2+ and activates protein tyrosine phosphorylation. IL-1-dependent up-regulation of connexin 43 could be prevented by intracellular Ca2+ chelation, but not by inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases, suggesting a crucial role of cytosolic Ca2+ in regulating the expression of connexin 43. IL-1 is one of the most potent cytokines that promotes cartilage catabolism: its modulation of intercellular communication represents a novel mechanism by which proinflammatory mediators regulate the activity of cartilage cells.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biochimica, Biofisica e Chimica delle Macromolecole, Università di Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tonon
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D018031:Connexin 43; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007546:Isoquinolines; C017475:lucifer yellow; D002118:Calcium