The Expression of Connexin 43 in Human Kidney and Cultured Renal Cells

Gap junctions enable intercellular communication and play an important role in a variety of vital cellular functions including differentiation and the control of growth. These junctions are formed by a hexameric of proteins known as connexins. We investigated the distribution of the connexin 43 (Cx4...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNephron Vol. 75; no. 4; pp. 458 - 463
Main Authors Hillis, Graham S., Duthie, Lesley A., Mlynski, Robert, McKay, Neil G., Mistry, Sanjay, MacLeod, Alison M., Simpson, John G., Haites, Neva E.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 1997
Subjects
Alkaline Phosphatase - immunology
Alkaline Phosphatase - metabolism
Animals
Cells, Cultured
Connexin 43 - biosynthesis
Glomerular Mesangium - cytology
Glomerular Mesangium - metabolism
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
In Vitro Techniques
Kidney - cytology
Kidney - metabolism
Kidney Tubules, Proximal - cytology
Kidney Tubules, Proximal - metabolism
Original Paper
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rats
Rats, Inbred Lew
RNA - biosynthesis
Mesangial cells
Human kidney
Connexin 43
Gap junctions
Proximal tubular cells
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Summary:Gap junctions enable intercellular communication and play an important role in a variety of vital cellular functions including differentiation and the control of growth. These junctions are formed by a hexameric of proteins known as connexins. We investigated the distribution of the connexin 43 (Cx43) gap junction protein in renal cells and human kidney using the alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase immunohistochemical technique with a monoclonal antibody directed against the cytoplasmic domain of this antigen. Strong staining was demonstrated on the vascular endothelium, the smooth muscle of larger vessels and on glomerular epithelial cells. In addition, Cx43 was expressed on proximal tubular cells, glomerular endothelial cells and occasional cells infiltrating the interstitium. In areas of tubular atrophy there was increased staining for Cx43. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction we have also demonstrated that cultured human and rat mesangial cells and human proximal tubular cells express Cx43 messenger RNA. In summary, we have described for the first time the distribution of Cx43 in human kidney and cultured renal cells.
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ISSN:1660-8151
2235-3186
DOI:10.1159/000189585