Shock : molecular, cellular, and systemic pathobiological aspects and therapeutic approaches : the official journal the Shock Society, the European Shock Society, the Brazilian Shock Society, the International Federation of Shock Societies
-
Gap junctional cellular communication is important in the propagation of signals that coordinate hepatic metabolism. Hepatocytes express two different connexin (Cx) genes, Cx32 and Cx26, which encode for the subunit component of gap junction channels. Previous studies have shown that the expression of hepatic Cx32 is reduced during inflammatory conditions. ⋯ However, Cx26 mRNA levels were unaffected or even transiently increased after the injection of LPS without significant increase in the polypeptide level. Thus, the down-regulation of Cx32 and Cx26 from the hepatocyte surface is apparently due to a rapid degradation of the polypeptide from the cell surface. We hypothesize that this loss of gap junctional cellular communication within the liver may contribute to the disordered hepatic metabolic that occurs during inflammatory states.