Gap19

Mitochondrial connexin 43 (Cx43) plays a key role in cardiac cytoprotection caused by repeated exposure to short periods of non-lethal ischemia/reperfusion, a condition known as ischemic preconditioning. Cx43 also forms calcium (Ca;2+;)-permeable hemichannels that may potentially lead to mitochondrial Ca;2+; overload and cell death. Here, we studied the role of Cx43 in facilitating mitochondrial Ca;2+; entry and investigated its downstream consequences. To that purpose, we used various connexin-targeting peptides interacting with extracellular (Gap26) and intracellular (Gap19, RRNYRRNY) Cx43 domains, and tested their effect on mitochondrial dye- and Ca;2+;-uptake, electrophysiological properties of plasmalemmal and mitochondrial Cx43 channels, and cell injury/cell death. Our results in isolated mice cardiac subsarcolemmal mitochondria indicate that Cx43 forms hemichannels that contribute to Ca;2+; entry and may trigger permeability transition and cell injury/death. RRNYRRNY displayed the strongest effects in all assays and inhibited plasma membrane as well as mitochondrial Cx43 hemichannels. RRNYRRNY also strongly reduced the infarct size in ex vivo cardiac ischemia-reperfusion studies.

We show here that the growth factor FGF-1 is proinflammatory in the spinal cord and explore the inflammatory mechanisms. FGF-1 applied to rat spinal astrocytes in culture initiates calcium signaling and induces secretion of ATP that within minutes increases membrane permeability to ethidium (Etd(+)) and Ca(2+) by activating P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) that open pannexin hemichannels (Px1 HCs) that release further ATP; by 7 h treatment, connexin 43 hemichannels (Cx43 HCs) are also opened. In acute mouse spinal cord slices ex vivo, we found that FGF-1 treatment for 1 h increases the percentage of GFAP-positive astrocytes that show enhanced Px1 HC-mediated Etd(+) uptake. This response to FGF-1 was not observed in astrocytes in slices of cerebral cortex. FGF-1-induced dye uptake by astrocytes is prevented by BAPTA-AM or a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor. Furthermore, in spinal cord slices, P2X7R antagonists (BBG and A740003) and Px1 HC blockers ((10)Panx1 and carbenoxolone) prevent the increase in Etd(+) uptake by astrocytes, whereas Gap19, a selective Cx43 HC blocker, has no effect on dye uptake at this time. Microglia are not required for the increase in Etd(+) uptake by astrocytes induced by FGF-1, although they are activated by FGF-1 treatment.

Connexin hemichannels are postulated to form a cell permeabilization pore for the uptake of fluorescent dyes and release of cellular ATP. Connexin hemichannel activity is enhanced by low external [Ca(2+)]o, membrane depolarization, metabolic inhibition, and some disease-causing gain-of-function connexin mutations. This paper briefly reviews the electrophysiological channel conductance, permeability, and pharmacology properties of connexin hemichannels, pannexin 1 channels, and purinergic P2X7 receptor channels as studied in exogenous expression systems including Xenopus oocytes and mammalian cell lines such as HEK293 cells. Overlapping pharmacological inhibitory and channel conductance and permeability profiles makes distinguishing between these channel types sometimes difficult. Selective pharmacology for Cx43 hemichannels (Gap19 peptide), probenecid or FD&C Blue #1 (Brilliant Blue FCF, BB FCF) for Panx1, and A740003, A438079, or oxidized ATP (oATP) for P2X7 channels may be the best way to distinguish between these three cell permeabilizing channel types. Endogenous connexin, pannexin, and P2X7 expression should be considered when performing exogenous cellular expression channel studies.