title: Connexins and their channels in inflammation.
abstract: Inflammation may be caused by a variety of factors and is a hallmark of a plethora of acute and chronic diseases. The purpose of inflammation is to eliminate the initial cell injury trigger, to clear out dead cells from damaged tissue and to initiate tissue regeneration. Despite the wealth of knowledge regarding the involvement of cellular communication in inflammation, studies on the role of connexin-based channels in this process have only begun to emerge in the last few years. In this paper, a state-of-the-art overview of the effects of inflammation on connexin signaling is provided. Vice versa, the involvement of connexins and their channels in inflammation will be discussed by relying on studies that use a variety of experimental tools, such as genetically modified animals, small interfering RNA and connexin-based channel blockers. A better understanding of the importance of connexin signaling in inflammation may open up towards clinical perspectives.
authors.affiliation: a Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium.
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willebrords
authors.affiliation: a Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crespo Yanguas
authors.affiliation: a Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium.
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: b Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Physiology Group , Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Decrock
authors.affiliation: b Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Physiology Group , Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: b Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Physiology Group , Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leybaert
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pathology and Immunology and Division of Cardiology , University of Geneva , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Brenda R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: d Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre , University of Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Colin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: e Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cogliati
authors.affiliation: a Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vinken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D017630:Connexins / Q000276:immunology*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins
keywords: Connexins; cytokines; gap junctions; hemichannels; inflammation