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Chondrocytes isolated from mature articular cartilage retain the capacity to form functional gap junctions
Author(s) -
Donahue Henry J.,
Guilak Farshid,
Vander Molen Monique A.,
Mcleod Kenneth J.,
Rubin Clinton T.,
Grande Daniel A.,
Brink Peter R.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of bone and mineral research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.882
H-Index - 241
eISSN - 1523-4681
pISSN - 0884-0431
DOI - 10.1002/jbmr.5650100913
Subject(s) - gap junction , connexin , microbiology and biotechnology , western blot , chemistry , cartilage , cell junction , chondrocyte , cell , biophysics , biology , anatomy , intracellular , biochemistry , gene
The distribution, expression, and functionality of gap junctions was examined in bovine chondrocytes (BCs) isolated from mature articular cartilage. BC cells displayed immunoreactivity for connexin 43 (Cx43), a specific gap junction protein. Cx43 protein expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis, and Cx43 mRNA was detected by nuclease protection assay. Additionally, BCs were shown to be functionally coupled, as revealed by dye transfer studies, and octanol, a gap junction uncoupler, greatly attenuated coupling. Furthermore, confocal microscopy of fluo‐3 loaded BC cells revealed that deformation‐induced cytosolic Ca 2+ ion (Ca 2+ ) signals propagated from cell‐to‐cell via gap junctions. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence suggesting that chondrocytes isolated from adult articular cartilage express functional gap junctions.