title: Role of gap junctions modulating hepatic vascular tone in cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gap junctions are formed by connexins (Cx), a family of proteins that couple endothelial and smooth muscle cells in systemic vessels. In this context, Cx allow the transmission of signals modulating vascular tone. Recently, vascular Cx have been observed in liver cells implicated in liver blood flow regulation. Here, we investigated the role of Cx in the regulation of intrahepatic vascular tone in cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Livers of Sprague-Dawley control and cirrhotic (common bile duct ligation-CBDL and CCl4 ) rats were perfused, and concentration-effect curves in response to acetylcholine (ACh) precontracted with methoxamine were obtained in the presence of the specific Cx inhibitor 18-alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid or vehicle. Cx expression was assessed by immunofluorescence, western blot and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in liver tissue, hepatic stellate cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes isolated from control and cirrhotic rat livers. Cx protein expression was also determined in cirrhotic human tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gap junction blockade markedly attenuated relaxation of hepatic vasculature in response to ACh in control (maximal relaxation, -55 ± 10.5% vs. -95.3 ± 10% with vehicle; P < 0.01) and CBDL rats (50.9 ± 18.5% vs. -18.7 ± 5.5% with vehicle; P = 0.01). Livers from CBDL rats and patients with cirrhosis exhibited Cx overexpression. By contrast, CCl4 -cirrhotic rats did not show attenuated relaxation of hepatic vasculature after blockade and Cx expression was significantly lower than in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gap junctions may contribute to modulating portal pressure and intrahepatic vascular relaxation. Liver gap junctions may represent a new therapeutic target in cirrhotic portal hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, University Hospital of the Canary Islands, Tenerife, Spain; Department of Internal Medicine, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández-Guerra
authors.forename: Yanira
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: González-Méndez
authors.forename: Zaida A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: de Ganzo
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salido
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: García-Pagán
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abrante
authors.forename: Antonio M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Malagón
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quintero
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000601:surgery; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D017082:Portal Pressure; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C119129:18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D000109:Acetylcholine; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid
keywords: chronic liver disease; cirrhosis; hepatic circulation; hepatic haemodynamics; portal hypertension