title: The Role of Connexins in Wound Healing and Repair: Novel Therapeutic Approaches.
abstract: Gap junctions are intercellular proteins responsible for mediating both electrical and biochemical coupling through the exchange of ions, second messengers and small metabolites. They consist of two connexons, with (one) connexon supplied by each cell. A connexon is a hexamer of connexins and currently more than 20 connexin isoforms have been described in the literature thus far. Connexins have a short half-life, and therefore gap junction remodeling constantly occurs with a high turnover rate. Post-translational modification, such as phosphorylation, can modify their channel activities. In this article, the roles of connexins in wound healing and repair are reviewed. Novel strategies for modulating the function or expression of connexins, such as the use of antisense technology, synthetic mimetic peptides and bioactive materials for the treatment of skin wounds, diabetic and pressure ulcers as well as cornea wounds, are considered.
authors.affiliation: Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Pui
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Department, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust London, UK.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laxton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Yin Wah Fiona
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wing Tak
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong Kong; Faculty of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tse
keywords: antisense oligodeoxynucleotides; connexin mimetic peptides; connexins; gap junction modulators; gap junctions; wound healing; wound repair