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Dynamic changes in connexin expression correlate with key events in the wound healing process
Author(s) -
Coutinho Petula,
Qiu Cindy,
Frank Stefanie,
Tamber Kamaldeep,
Becker David
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1016/s1065-6995(03)00077-5
Subject(s) - connexin , wound healing , gap junction , microbiology and biotechnology , epidermis (zoology) , dermis , downregulation and upregulation , extracellular , biology , intracellular , anatomy , immunology , genetics , gene
Wound healing is a complex process requiring communication for the precise co‐ordination of different cell types. The role of extracellular communication through growth factors in the wound healing process has been extensively documented, but the role of direct intercellular communication via gap junctions has scarcely been investigated. We have examined the dynamics of gap junction protein (Connexins 26, 30, 31.1 and 43) expression in the murine epidermis and dermis during wound healing, and we show that connexin expression is extremely plastic between 6 hours and 12 days post‐wounding. The immediate response (6 h) to wounding is to downregulate all connexins in the epidermis, but thereafter the expression profile of each connexin changes dramatically. Here, we correlate the changing patterns of connexin expression with key events in the wound healing process.