Connexin 43 expression is associated with vascular activation in human radial artery.
The gap junction protein, connexin 43 (Cx43) might be involved in the development of atherosclerosis. However, little is known about Cx43 expression in human arteries. We histologically analyzed the distal portions of radial (RA) and internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) obtained from 29 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The medial smooth muscle cells of RA expressed Cx43, the intensity of which correlated with nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) activation. In contrast, the expression of Cx43 in ITA did not correlate with NFκB activation. Cx43 appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis especially in muscular arteries.
First Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Japan.
Kumiko
K
Arishiro
First Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Japan. Electronic address: in1026@poh.osaka-med.ac.jp.
Masaaki
M
Hoshiga
First Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Japan.
Tadashi
T
Ishihara
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Japan.
Keiichiro
K
Kondo
First Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Japan.
Toshiaki
T
Hanafusa
D000368:Aged; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000378:metabolism*
D018031:Connexin 43