title: The role of gap junctions in inflammatory and neoplastic disorders (Review).
abstract: Gap junctions are intercellular channels made of connexin proteins, mediating both electrical and biochemical signals between cells. The ability of gap junction proteins to regulate immune responses, cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and carcinogenesis makes them attractive therapeutic targets for treating inflammatory and neoplastic disorders in different organ systems. Alterations in gap junction profile and expression levels are observed in hyperproliferative skin disorders, lymphatic vessel diseases, inflammatory lung diseases, liver injury and neoplastic disorders. It is now recognized that the therapeutic effects mediated by traditional pharmacological agents are dependent upon gap junction communication and may even act by influencing gap junction expression or function. Novel strategies for modulating the function or expression of connexins, such as the use of synthetic mimetic peptides and siRNA technology are considered.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Pui
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Department, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6NP, UK.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laxton
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1AG, UK.
authors.forename: Yin Wah Fiona
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D024201:Bystander Effect / Q000187:drug effects; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers