Role of connexin-related signalling in hepatic homeostasis and its relevance for liver-based in vitro modelling  

作　　者：Mathieu Vinken 

机构地区：[1]Department of Toxicology,Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,Vrije Universiteit Brussel

出　　处：《World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology》2011年第5期82-87,共6页世界胃肠病理生理学杂志（英文版）（电子版）

基　　金：supported by grants of the FWO,the research council of the VUB and the European Union

摘　　要：Direct intercellular communication mediated by gap junctions constitutes a major regulatory platform in the control of hepatic homeostasis.Hepatocellular gap junctions are composed of two hemichannels of adjacent cells which are built up by connexin proteins,in casu Cx32.Mathieu Vinken,Pofessor at the Department of Toxicology of the Free University BrusselsBelgium,was one of the first investigators to demonstrate that hepatic connexin expression is controlled by epigenetic mechanisms.In particular,he found that inhibitors of histone deacetylase enzymes enhance Cx32 production and gap junction activity in cultures of primary hepatocytes,a finding that is of importance for liver-based in vitro modelling.Professor Dr.Mathieu Vinken's recent work is focussed on the elucidation of the role of connexin proteins and their channels in the hepatocyte life cycle.Specific attention is paid to apoptosis in this context,whereby it has been found that Cx32 hemichannels control the termination of induced cell death in cultures of primary hepatocytes. Overall,Professor Dr.Mathieu Vinken's research can be considered as an important contribution to the field of hepatic connexin physiology.Direct intercellular communication mediated by gap junctions constitutes a major regulatory platform in the control of hepatic homeostasis. Hepatocellular gap junctions are composed of two hemichannels of adjacent cells which are built up by connexin proteins, in casu Cx32. Mathieu Vinken, Pofessor at the Department of Toxicology of the Free University Brussels-Belgium, was one of the first investigators to demonstrate that hepatic connexin expression is controlled by epigenetic mechanisms. In particular, he found that inhibitors of histone deacetylase enzymes enhance Cx32 production and gap junction activity in cultures of primary hepatocytes, a finding that is of importance for liver-based in vitro modelling. Professor Dr. Mathieu Vinken’s recent work is focussed on the elucidation of the role of connexin proteins and their channels in the hepatocyte life cycle. Specific attention is paid to apoptosis in this context, whereby it has been found that Cx32 hemichannels control the termination of induced cell death in cultures of primary hepatocytes. Overall, Professor Dr. Mathieu Vinken’s research can be considered as an important contribution to the field of hepatic connexin physiology.

关 键 词：CONNEXIN HEMICHANNEL Gap junction Primary HEPATOCYTE In VITRO modelling Epigenetics HISTONE modifications Cell death Apoptosis HEPATOTOXICITY 

分 类 号：R329[医药卫生—人体解剖和组织胚胎学]