title: Connexin 43 mediates PFOS-induced apoptosis in astrocytes.
abstract: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a man-made environmental pollutant that is toxic to mammals. However, the neurotoxic effects of PFOS remain largely unexplored. In this study, we determined the role of an astrocyte specific gap junction protein, connexin 43 (Cx43), in PFOS-induced apoptosis. The rate of astrocyte apoptosis was higher in cortex astrocytes after PFOS treatment. These astrocytes also showed up-regulated expression of Cx43 and higher levels of cleaved caspase-3. Elevated ROS accumulation and decreased ΔΨm also confirmed the presence of PFOS-induced apoptosis. However, the exposure of astrocytes to PFOS together with carbenoxolone (CBX) significantly reduced both Cx43 and cleaved caspase-3 levels. These results indicate that Cx43 plays a proapoptotic role in PFOS-induced apoptosis in cortex astrocyte cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Health and Related Product Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China. Electronic address: lizi1214@sina.com.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Health and Related Product Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Health and Related Product Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Health and Related Product Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China.
authors.forename: Kangfeng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Beijing Biodonor Biotech Ltd., 88 The 6th Kechuang Street, Incubation Center Room 303, 101111 Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Huizheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Beijing Biodonor Biotech Ltd., 88 The 6th Kechuang Street, Incubation Center Room 303, 101111 Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Health and Related Product Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China. Electronic address: xuetaobai@sina.com.
authors.forename: Xuetao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bai
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D018031:Connexin 43; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Apoptosis; Connexin 43; Neurotoxicity; Perfluorooctane sulfonate; Reactive oxygen species