Role of connexin/pannexin containing channels in infectious diseases.
In recent years it has become evident that gap junctions and hemichannels, in concert with extracellular ATP and purinergic receptors, play key roles in several physiological processes and pathological conditions. However, only recently has their importance in infectious diseases been explored, likely because early reports indicated that connexin containing channels were completely inactivated under inflammatory conditions, and therefore no further research was performed. However, recent evidence indicates that several infectious agents take advantage of these communication systems to enhance inflammation and apoptosis, as well as to participate in the infectious cycle of several pathogens. In the current review, we will discuss the role of these channels/receptors in the pathogenesis of several infectious diseases and the possibilities of generating novel therapeutic approaches to reduce or prevent these diseases.
Public Health Research Institute (PHRI), Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA. Electronic address: eliseo.eugenin@rutgers.edu.
Eliseo A
EA
Eugenin
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000378:metabolism; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*
D017630:Connexins; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate
Bacteria; Gap junction; Purinergic; Virus