title: Connexins and secretion.
abstract: Connexin channels clustered at gap junctions are obligatory attributes of all macroscopic endocrine and exocrine glands investigated so far and also connect most types of cells which produce secretory products in other tissues. Increasing evidence indicates that connexins, and the cell-to-cell communications that these proteins permit, contribute to control the growth of secretory cells, their expression of specific genes and their differentiated function, including their characteristic ability to biosynthetize and release secretory products in a regulated manner. Since the previous reviews which have been published on this topic, several lines of evidence have been added in support of multiple regulatory roles of gland connexins. Here, we review this novel evidence, point to the many questions which are still open and discuss some interesting perspectives of the field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, University of Geneva, Medical School, C.M.U., 1 rue Michel Servet, 1211 4, Genève, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Serre-Beinier
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mas
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caton
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauquis
authors.forename: Dorothée
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caille
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charollais
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cirulli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins