title: Inhibition of gap junctional Intercellular communication in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells by triphenyltin chloride through MAPK and PI3-kinase pathways.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Organotin compounds (OTCs) have been widely used as stabilizers in the production of plastic, agricultural pesticides, antifoulant plaints and wood preservation. The toxicity of triphenyltin (TPT) compounds was known for their embryotoxic, neurotoxic, genotoxic and immunotoxic effects in mammals. The carcinogenicity of TPT was not well understood and few studies had discussed the effects of OTCs on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) of cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, the effects of triphenyltin chloride (TPTC) on GJIC in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells were evaluated, using the scrape-loading dye transfer technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TPTC inhibited GJIC after a 30-min exposure in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Pre-incubation of cells with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor did not modify the response, but the specific MEK 1 inhibitor PD98059 and PI3K inhibitor LY294002 decreased substantially the inhibition of GJIC by TPTC. After WB-F344 cells were exposed to TPTC, phosphorylation of Cx43 increased as seen in Western blot analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that TPTC inhibits GJIC in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells by altering the Cx43 protein expression through both MAPK and PI3-kinase pathways.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan. talktofen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chung-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: I-Hui
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chia-Rong
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chih-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Ming-Che
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Jin-Lian
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Hsiu-Fen
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Lin