Blockage of hemichannels alters gene expression in osteocytes in a high magneto-gravitational environment.
Osteocytes, the most abundant cells in bone, are highly responsive to external environmental changes. We tested how Cx43 hemichannels which mediate the exchange of small molecules between cells and extracellular environment impact genome wide gene expression under conditions of abnormal gravity and magnetic field. To this end, we subjected osteocytic MLO-Y4 cells to a high magneto-gravitational environment and used microarray to examine global gene expression and a specific blocking antibody was used to assess the role of Cx43 hemichannels. While 3 hr exposure to abnormal gravity and magnetic field had relatively minor effects on global gene expression, blocking hemichannels significantly impacted the expression of a number of genes which are involved in cell viability, apoptosis, mineral absorption, protein absorption and digestion, and focal adhesion. Also, blocking of hemichannels enriched genes in multiple signaling pathways which are enaged by TGF-beta, Jak-STAT and VEGF. These results show the role of connexin hemichannels in bone cells in high magneto-gravitational environments.
Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710072, China.
Huiyun
H
Xu
Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710072, China.
Dandan
D
Ning
Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710072, China.
Dezhi
D
Zhao
Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710072, China.
Yunhe
Y
Chen
Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710072, China.
Dongdong
D
Zhao
Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA.
Sumin
S
Gu
Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA.
Jean Xin
JX
Jiang
Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710072, China, celldon@126.com.
Peng
P
Shang
D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D017209:Apoptosis; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002460:Cell Line; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006112:Gravitation; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D060526:Magnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D059748:Proteolysis; D018561:Space Simulation / Q000009:adverse effects*
D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D018031:Connexin 43