Role of gap junction and connexin-43 in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Jieying Lin; Niyang Lin

摘要：OBJECTEVE:Gap junctin (GJ)is the structural basis for direct intercellular communication of nerve cells . Connexin(Cx) is the protein subunit for constructling GJ channel. Among them, Cx43is closely related with nervous system. Both Cx43 and nervous system play an important role in the pathophysiological development of hypoxic-ischemic injury. We are in attempt to investigate GJ,Cx43 and their correlations with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage by research.DATA SOURCES:Using the terms "brain gap junction"in English and "gap junction"in Chinese, we searched the Medline database and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database as well as China Hospital Knowledge Database to identify the articles published from 1996 to 2006 about GJ and brain hypoxic-ischemic injury.STUDY SELECTION:The articles were selected firstly and abstracts of 250 articles were read thuugh.Articles in which the experimental design met randomized controlled principle were included,and study articles and case reports with repetitve contents were excluded.DATA EXTRACTION:Among 53 included correlative articles, 23 were excluded for repetitive contents and the other 30 were analyzed.DATA SYNTHESIS:GJ,widely esistling in nervous system,plays a key role in maintainling normal differentiation and development as well as physiological function brain tissue.GJ channel is a hydrophilic,low-selectivity and lowohmic channel, which can provide direct channel for intercellular substance transmission and information communication. It plays an important role in the differentiation and development of nerve cells and regulation of physiological function,The funtions of GJ channel are regulated by many factors,which invilved intracellular Ph value, Ca2+concentration, ATP concentration, phosphorylation of Cx, transchannel pressure,some neurohormonal factors,regulatory factors of protein and so on. Cx43 is the main component of GJ channel in the brain tissues. Its expression in the brain tissue of mammal is the strongest. Mainly in astrocytesl. Strdies demonstrate that gap junctional intercellular communication abnormality and Cx gene change aer closely related with the pathophyisological processes of many nervous system diseases. Among them, the intercellular GJ function and Cx43 change of astrocytes are closely related with the pathophysiological development of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. CONCLUSION:Intercellular GJ function and Cx43 change of astrocytes play a key role in the hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.