title: Myocardial connexin-43 and N-Cadherin decrease during vanadium inhalation.
abstract: Particulate matter air pollution has considerably increased during the last decades; vanadium is a transition element adhered to this particulate matter, and the combustion of fossil fuels is the main source in the atmosphere. It has been reported that air pollution and specifically vanadium exposure increases the probability of suffering arrhythmias; however the biological mechanism of such a relationship remains unknown. It has been established that a diminished presence of N-Cadherin alters the Connexin-43 arrangement, and the consequent altered presence of these proteins predisposes to ventricular heart rate problems. We analyzed myocardial histology and the expression of N-Cadherin and Connexin-43 by immunohistochemistry in mouse that inhaled vanadium. Our results showed a significant and progressive reduction in both N-Cadherin and Connexin-43, as well as the presence of meganucleus; myofibrils disruption, and clumping in the exposed groups were also observed. Our findings add more information about a possible explanation for the arrythmogenic effect observed in dwellers of cities with high particulate matter atmospheric pollution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Tissular Biology, School of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico. fortoul@unam.mx.
authors.forename: Teresa I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Fortoul
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition "Salvador Zubirán", SSa, Mexico City, México.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soto-Mota
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Tissular Biology, School of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rojas-Lemus
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Tissular Biology, School of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico.
authors.forename: Vianey
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Lara
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Tissular Biology, School of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Villalva
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Tissular Biology, School of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Montaño
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, National Institute of Cardiology, SSa, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Araceli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paez
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, FES Iztacala, Edo. de México, UNAM, Mexico.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colin-Barenque
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Tissular Biology, School of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico.
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: López-Valdez
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, UVM, Campus Sur, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Gumaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cano-Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Tissular Biology, School of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bizarro-Nevares
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Tissular Biology, School of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ustarroz-Cano
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D014639:Vanadium / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D018031:Connexin 43; C543076:GJA1 protein, mouse; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014639:Vanadium