title: Expression of gap junction proteins connexins 26, 30, and 43 in Dupuytren's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a benign fibroproliferative process of the palmar aponeurosis showing similarities to wound healing. Communication of cells involved in wound healing is mediated by the composition of gap junction (GJ) proteins. We investigated the expression of 3 GJ proteins, connexins 26, 30, and 43 (Cx26, Cx30, and Cx43) in DD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fragments of Dupuytren's tissue from 31 patients (mean age 56 (30-76) years, 24 male) were analyzed immunohistochemically and compared to control tissue for expression of the GJ proteins Cx26, Cx30, and Cx43 and also alfa-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  14 of 31 samples could be attributed to the involutional phase (α-SMA positive) whereas 17 samples had to be considered cords in the residual phase (α-SMA negative). Expression of Cx26 and Cx43 was seen in 12 of the 14 samples from the involutional phase, and Cx30 was seen in 7 of these. Only 4 of the 17 samples from the residual phase showed any Cx, and there was none in the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high expression of GJ proteins Cx26, Cx30, and Cx43 in α-SMA positive myofibroblast-rich nodules, which are characteristic of the active involutional phase of DD, suggests that connexins could be a novel treatment target for the treatment of DD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Medical University of Graz, Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Lukas A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Holzer
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cör
authors.forename: Gerold
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holzer
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000072259:Connexin 26; D000075302:Connexin 30; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004387:Dupuytren Contracture / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000072259:Connexin 26; D000075302:Connexin 30; D017630:Connexins; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein; C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; C491020:GJB6 protein, human