Intercellular calcium waves in primary cultured rat mesenteric smooth muscle cells are mediated by connexin43.
Intercellular Ca(2+) wave propagation between vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is associated with the propagation of contraction along the vessel. Here, we characterize the involvement of gap junctions (GJs) in Ca(2+) wave propagation between SMCs at the cellular level. Gap junctional communication was assessed by the propagation of intercellular Ca(2+) waves and the transfer of Lucifer Yellow in A7r5 cells, primary rat mesenteric SMCs (pSMCs), and 6B5N cells, a clone of A7r5 cells expressing higher connexin43 (Cx43) to Cx40 ratio. Mechanical stimulation induced an intracellular Ca(2+) wave in pSMC and 6B5N cells that propagated to neighboring cells, whereas Ca(2+) waves in A7r5 cells failed to progress to neighboring cells. We demonstrate that Cx43 forms the functional GJs that are involved in mediating intercellular Ca(2+) waves and that co-expression of Cx40 with Cx43, depending on their expression ratio, may interfere with Cx43 GJ formation, thus altering junctional communication.
Laboratory of Cell Biophysics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland. nadia.halidi@a3.epfl.ch
Nadia
N
Halidi
Florian
F
Alonso
Janis M
JM
Burt
Jean-Louis
JL
Bény
Jacques-Antoine
JA
Haefliger
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Meister
D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D002229:Carbenoxolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000166:cytology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D000442:Octanols / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D011485:Protein Binding; D021381:Protein Transport; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein
D002229:Carbenoxolone; D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007546:Isoquinolines; D000442:Octanols; D010455:Peptides; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein; C514423:Gap 26 peptide; C017475:lucifer yellow