title: CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets express connexin 43 and establish gap junction channel communication with macrophages in vitro.
abstract: Gap junction channels constructed of connexins (Cxs) are expressed by peripheral and secondary lymphoid organ-derived lymphocytes. These channels in the plasma membrane play key roles in a range of lymphocyte functions exemplified by the synthesis and secretion of Igs and cytokines and during transmigration across the endothelium. Most recently, their involvement in antigen cross-presentation has also been established. We report here for the first time the expression of mRNA and protein encoding Cx43 in mouse-derived CD4+ Th0, Th1, and Th2 lymphocyte subpopulations and demonstrate the establishment gap junction channel formation with primary macrophages in vitro. We show that this mode of direct communication is particularly favored in Th1-macrophage interactions and that LPS inhibits lymphocyte-macrophage cross-talk independently of the subset of lymphocyte involved. Our work suggests that gap junction-mediated communication can be modulated in the absence of specific antigenic stimulation. Therefore, a further mechanism featuring gap junction-mediated communication may be implicated in immune regulation.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bermudez-Fajardo
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ylihärsilä
authors.forename: W Howard
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Newby
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oviedo-Orta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D018031:Connexin 43; D016207:Cytokines; D007473:Ion Channels; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger