Involvement of gap junctional communication in secretion.
Glands were the first type of tissues in which the permissive role of gap junctions in the cell-to-cell transfer of membrane-impermeant molecules was shown. During the 40 years that have followed this seminal finding, gap junctions have been documented in all types of multicellular secretory systems, whether of the exocrine, endocrine or pheromonal nature. Also, compelling evidence now indicates that gap junction-mediated coupling, and/or the connexin proteins per se, play significant regulatory roles in various aspects of gland functions, ranging from the biosynthesis, storage and release of a variety of secretory products, to the control of the growth and differentiation of secretory cells, and to the regulation of gland morphogenesis. This review summarizes this evidence in the light of recent reports.
Michon
Laetitia
L
Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, C.M.U., 1 rue Michel Servet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Nlend Nlend
Rachel
R
Bavamian
Sabine
S
Bischoff
Lorraine
L
Boucard
Nathalie
N
Caille
Dorothée
D
Cancela
José
J
Charollais
Anne
A
Charpantier
Eric
E
Klee
Philippe
P
Peyrou
Manon
M
Populaire
Céline
C
Zulianello
Laurence
L
Meda
Paolo
P
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D019076:Transgenes
D017630:Connexins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D002118:Calcium