Role of connexins in spinal cord injury: An update
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Elsevier B.V.
Abstract
Connexins (Cxs) are a family of transmembrane proteins that assemble into groups of six, forming what is known as a connexon or a hemichannel. Connexins are named based on their molecular weight, e.g. Cx43 is the connexin protein that weighs 43 kDa. Two hemichannels, each from a different cell, can link up end-to-end forming a gap junction. In the nervous system, gap junctions facilitate metabolite exchange between neighboring cells, in addition to electrical and chemical impulses. Many animal studies have been conducted to investigate the role of different types of Cxs in spinal cord injury (SCI) – most notably Cx43 - and the potential for targeting them with inhibitors. In this review, the authors discuss these studies and provide an update on recent connexin specific pharmacological agents that may potentially pave the way for the use of connexin inhibition in the management of SCI in humans, if more translational studies are done. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.
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Keywords
Connexin, Connexin 43, Gap junction, Hemichannels, Spinal cord injury, Animals, Astrocytes, Axons, Connexins, Gap junctions, Glutamic acid, Humans, Spinal cord, Spinal cord injuries, 2 aminophenoxyborate, Adenosine triphosphate, Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, Boric acid, Brain derived neurotrophic factor, Carbenoxolone, Connexin 30, Connexin 31, Connexin 32, Connexin 45, Connexin 47, Cytokine, Flufenamic acid, Gap junction inhibitor, Gap junction protein, Gap19, Gap26, Gap27, Ini 0602, Long chain fatty acid, Mefloquine, Membrane protein, Neuroprotective agent, Octanol, Oleic acid, Peptidomimetic agent, Protein antibody, Unclassified drug, Astrocyte, Axonal injury, Blood brain barrier, Degenerative disease, Drug targeting, Endothelium cell, Extracellular space, Human, Metabolite, Molecular weight, Motoneuron, Nervous system, Neurologic disease, Neuroprotection, Nonhuman, Oligodendroglia, Pericyte, Peripheral nerve injury, Protein expression, Review, Signal transduction, White matter, Animal, Axon, Metabolism