Gap junctions in the control of vascular function

Antioxidants and Redox Signaling

Volumn 11, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 251-266

  Figueroa, Xavier F ^a   Duling, Brian R ^b  

^a PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DE CHILE   (Chile)

^b UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CONNEXIN 37; CONNEXIN 40; CONNEXIN 43; CONNEXIN 45; ENDOTHELIUM DERIVED HYPERPOLARIZING FACTOR;

ARTERIAL PRESSURE; ASTROCYTE; BLOOD VESSEL TONE; BLOOD VESSEL WALL; CELL FUNCTION; CELL MEMBRANE; DIABETES MELLITUS; ELECTROSTIMULATION; ENDOTHELIUM CELL; GAP JUNCTION; HEART DEVELOPMENT; HUMAN; HYPERTENSION; NONHUMAN; PATHOPHYSIOLOGY; PRIORITY JOURNAL; PROTEIN EXPRESSION; REVIEW; SEX DIFFERENCE; VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE; VASCULARIZATION;

ANIMALS; CELL COMMUNICATION; CONNEXINS; DIABETES MELLITUS; GAP JUNCTIONS; HUMANS; HYPERTENSION; MODELS, BIOLOGICAL;

EID: 58149100084     PISSN: 15230864     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1089/ars.2008.2117     Document Type: Review

References (218)

1. Ahluwalia A and Hobbs AJ. Endothelium-derived C-type natriuretic peptide: more than just a hyperpolarizing factor. Trends Pharmacol Sci 26: 162-167, 2005.
2. Anderson CM and Nedergaard M. Astrocyte-mediated control of cerebral microcirculation. Trends Neurosci 26: 340-344, 2003.
3. Andresen J, Shafi NI, and Bryan RM Jr. Endothelial influences on cerebrovascular tone. J Appl Physiol 100: 318-327, 2006.
4. Archer SL, Gragasin FS, Wu X, Wang S, McMurtry S, Kim DH, Platonov M, Koshal A, Hashimoto K, Campbell WB, Falck JR, and Michelakis ED. Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in human internal mammary artery is 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid and causes relaxation by activating smooth muscle BK(Ca) channels. Circulation 107: 769-776, 2003.
5. Arensbak B, Mikkelsen HB, Gustafsson F, Christensen T, and Holstein-Rathlou NH. Expression of connexin 37, 40, and 43 mRNA and protein in renal preglomerular arterioles. Histochem Cell Biol 115: 479-487, 2001.
6. Bao X, Clark CB, and Frangos JA. Temporal gradient in shear-induced signaling pathway: involvement of MAP kinase, c-fos, and connexin43. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 278: H1598-H1605, 2000.
7. Barth K, Gentsch M, Blasche R, Pfuller A, Parshyna I, Koslowski R, Barth G, and Kasper M. Distribution of caveolin-1 and connexin43 in normal and injured alveolar epithelial R3/1 cells. Histochem Cell Biol 123: 239-247, 2005.
8. Bartlett IS and Segal SS. Resolution of smooth muscle and endothelial pathways for conduction along hamster cheek pouch arterioles. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 278: H604-H612, 2000.
9. Beach JM, McGahren ED, and Duling BR. Capillaries and arterioles are electrically coupled in hamster cheek pouch. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 44: H1489-H1496, 1998.
10. Beny JL. Information networks in the arterial wall. News Physiol Sci 14: 68-73, 1999.
11. Beny JL and Pacicca C. Bidirectional electrical communication between smooth muscle and endothelial cells in the pig coronary artery. Am J Physiol 266: H1465-H1472, 1994.
12. Beyer EC, Gemel J, Seul KH, Larson DM, Banach K, and Brink PR. Modulation of intercellular communication by differential regulation and heteromeric mixing of co-expressed connexins. Braz J Med Biol Res 33: 391-397, 2000.
13. Boerma M, Forsberg L, Van Zeijl L, Morgenstern R, De Faire U, Lemne C, Erlinge D, Thulin T, Hong Y, and Cotgreave IA. A genetic polymorphism in connexin 37 as a prognostic marker for atherosclerotic plaque development. J Intern Med 246: 211-218, 1999.
14. Brink PR, Valiunas V, Wang HZ, Zhao W, Davies K, and Christ GJ. Experimental diabetes alters connexin43 derived gap junction permeability in short-term cultures of rat corporeal vascular smooth muscle cells. J Urol 175: 381-386, 2006.
15. Brisset AC, Isakson BE, and Kwak BR. Connexin in vascular physiology and pathology. Antioxid Redox Signal 2008.
16. Bucala R, Tracey KJ, and Cerami A. Advanced glycosylation products quench nitric oxide and mediate defective endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in experimental diabetes. J Clin Invest 87: 432-438, 1991.
17. Budel S, Bartlett IS, and Segal SS. Homocellular conduction along endothelium and smooth muscle of arterioles in hamster cheek pouch: unmasking an NO wave. Circ Res 93: 61-68, 2003.
18. Busse R, Edwards G, Feletou M, Fleming I, Vanhoutte PM, and Weston AH. EDHF: bringing the concepts together. Trends Pharmacol Sci 23: 374-380, 2002.
19. Chadjichristos CE, Matter CM, Roth I, Sutter E, Pelli G, Luscher TF, Chanson M, and Kwak BR. Reduced connexin43 expression limits neointima formation after balloon distension injury in hypercholesterolemic mice. Circulation 113: 2835-2843, 2006.
20. Chauhan SD, Nilsson H, Ahluwalia A, and Hobbs AJ. Release of C-type natriuretic peptide accounts for the biological activity of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100: 1426-1431, 2003.
21. Chaytor AT, Bakker LM, Edwards DH, and Griffith TM. Connexin-mimetic peptides dissociate electrotonic EDHF-type signalling via myoendothelial and smooth muscle gap junctions in the rabbit iliac artery. Br J Pharmacol 144: 108-114, 2005.
22. Christ GJ, Moreno AP, Melman A, and Spray DC. Gap junction-mediated intercellular diffusion of Ca2+ in cultured human corporal smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol 263: C373-C383, 1992.
23. Christ GJ, Moreno AP, Parker M, Gondre CM, Valcic M, Melman A, and Spray DC. Intercellular communication through gap junctions: a potential role in pharmacomechanical coupling and syncytial tissue contraction in vascular smooth muscle isolated from the human corpus cavernosum. Life Sci 49: PL195-PL200, 1991.
24. Christ GJ, Spray DC, el-Sabban M, Moore LK, and Brink PR. Gap junctions in vascular tissues: evaluating the role of intercellular communication in the modulation of vasomotor tone. Circ Res 79: 631-646, 1996.
25. Clauss SB, Walker DL, Kirby ML, Schimel D, and Lo CW. Patterning of coronary arteries in wildtype and connexin43 knockout mice. Dev Dyn 235: 2786-2794, 2006.
26. Congdon NG, Friedman DS, and Lietman T. Important causes of visual impairment in the world today. JAMA 290: 2057-2060, 2003.
27. Cornell-Bell AH, Finkbeiner SM, Cooper MS, and Smith SJ. Glutamate induces calcium waves in cultured astrocytes: long-range glial signaling. Science 247: 470-473, 1990.
28. Cottrell GT, Wu Y, and Burt JM. Cx40 and Cx43 expression ratio influences heteromeric/ heterotypic gap junction channel properties. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 282: C1469-C1482, 2002.
29. Cowan DB, Jones M, Garcia LM, Noria S, del Nido PJ, and McGowan FX, Jr. Hypoxia and stretch regulate intercellular communication in vascular smooth muscle cells through reactive oxygen species formation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 23: 1754-1760, 2003.
30. Cowan DB, Lye SJ, and Langille BL. Regulation of vascular connexin43 gene expression by mechanical loads. Circ Res 82: 786-793, 1998.
31. Cox SB, Woolsey TA, and Rovainen CM. Localized dynamic changes in cortical blood flow with whisker stimulation corresponds to matched vascular and neuronal architecture of rat barrels. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 13: 899-913, 1993.
32. Crane GJ, Gallagher N, Dora KA, and Garland CJ. Small-and intermediate-conductance calcium-activated K+ channels provide different facets of endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization in rat mesenteric artery. J Physiol 553: 183-189, 2003.
33. Crane GJ, Neild TO, and Segal SS. Contribution of active membrane processes to conducted hyperpolarization in arterioles of hamster cheek pouch. Microcirculation 11: 425-433, 2004.
34. Dang X, Doble BW, and Kardami E. The carboxy-tail of connexin-43 localizes to the nucleus and inhibits cell growth. Mol Cell Biochem 242: 35-38, 2003.
35. De Vriese AS, Van de Voorde J, and Lameire NH. Effects of connexin-mimetic peptides on nitric oxide synthase- and cyclooxygenase- independent renal vasodilation. Kidney Int 61: 177-185, 2002.
36. de Wit C, Roos F, Bolz SS, Kirchhoff S, Kruger O, Willecke K, and Pohl U. Impaired conduction of vasodilation along arterioles in connexin40-deficient mice. Circ Res 86: 649-655, 2000.
37. de Wit C, Roos F, Bolz SS, and Pohl U. Lack of vascular connexin 40 is associated with hypertension and irregular arteriolar vasomotion. Physiol Genom 13: 169-177, 2003.
38. dePaola N, Davies PF, Pritchard WF Jr, Florez L, Harbeck N, and Polacek DC. Spatial and temporal regulation of gap junction connexin43 in vascular endothelial cells exposed to controlled disturbed flows in vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 96: 3154-3159, 1999.
39. Dietrich HH, Kajita Y, and Dacey RG Jr. Local and conducted vasomotor responses in isolated rat cerebral arterioles. Am J Physiol 271: H1109-H1116, 1996.
40. Dora KA, Sandow SL, Gallagher NT, Takano H, Rummery NM, Hill CE. and Garland CJ. Myoendothelial gap junctions may provide the pathway for EDHF in mouse mesenteric artery. J Vasc Res 40: 480-490, 2003.
41. Doyle MP and Duling BR. Acetylcholine induces conducted vasodilation by nitric oxide-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 41: H1364-H1371, 1997.
42. Earley S, Resta TC, and Walker BR. Disruption of smooth muscle gap junctions attenuates myogenic vasoconstriction of mesenteric resistance arteries. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 287: H2677-H2686, 2004.
43. Edwards G, Dora KA, Gardener MJ, Garland CJ, and Weston AH. K+ is an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in rat arteries. Nature 396: 269-272, 1998.
44. Eichler I, Wibawa J, Grgic I, Knorr A, Brakemeier S, Pries AR, Hoyer J, and Kohler R. Selective blockade of endothelial Ca2+-activated small- and intermediate-conductance K+-channels suppresses EDHF-mediated vasodilation. Br J Pharmacol 138: 594-601, 2003.
45. Emerson GG, Neild TO, and Segal SS. Conduction of hyperpolarization along hamster feed arteries: augmentation by acetylcholine. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 283: H102-H109, 2002.
46. Emerson GG and Segal SS. Electrical coupling between endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in hamster feed arteries: role in vasomotor control. Circ Res 87: 474-479, 2000.
47. Emerson GG and Segal SS. Endothelial cell pathway for conduction of hyperpolarization and vasodilation along hamster feed artery. Circ Res 86: 94-100, 2000.
48. Emerson GG and Segal SS. Electrical activation of endothelium evokes vasodilation and hyperpolarization along hamster feed arteries. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 280: H160-H167, 2001.
49. Evans WH and Martin PE. Gap junctions: structure and function (review). Mol Membr Biol 19: 121-136, 2002.
50. Feletou M and Vanhoutte PM. Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 23: 1082-1090, 1996.
51. Feletou M, Vanhoutte PM, Weston AH, and Edwards G. EDHF and endothelial potassium channels: IKCa and SKCa. Br J Pharmacol 140: 225, 2003.
52. Feron O, Belhassen L, Kobzik L, Smith TW, Kelly RA, and Michel T. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase targeting to caveolae: specific interactions with caveolin isoforms in cardiac myocytes and endothelial cells. J Biol Chem 271: 22810-22814, 1996.
53. Figueroa XF, Alvina K, Martinez AD, Garces G, Rosemblatt M, Boric MP, and Saez JC. Histamine reduces gap junctional communication of human tonsil high endothelial cells in culture. Microvasc Res 68: 247-257, 2004.
54. Figueroa XF, Chen CC, Campbell KP, Damon DN, Day KH, Ramos S, and Duling BR. Are voltage-dependent ion channels involved in the endothelial cell control of vasomotor tone? Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 293: H1371-H1383, 2007.
55. Figueroa XF, Isakson BE, and Duling BR. Connexins: gaps in our knowledge of vascular function. Physiology (Bethesda) 19: 277-284, 2004.
56. Figueroa XF, Isakson BE, and Duling BR. Vascular gap junctions in hypertension. Hypertension 48: 804-811, 2006.
57. Figueroa XF, Paul DL, Simon AM, Goodenough DA, Day KH, Damon DN, and Duling BR. Central role of connexin40 in the propagation of electrically activated vasodilation in mouse cremasteric arterioles in vivo. Circ Res 92: 793-800, 2003.
58. Filosa JA, Bonev AD, and Nelson MT. Calcium dynamics in cortical astrocytes and arterioles during neurovascular coupling. Circ Res 95: e73-e81, 2004.
59. Filosa JA, Bonev AD, Straub SV, Meredith AL, Wilkerson MK, Aldrich RW, and Nelson MT. Local potassium signaling couples neuronal activity to vasodilation in the brain. Nat Neurosci 9: 1397-1403, 2006.
60. Firouzi M, Bierhuizen MF, Kok B, Teunissen BE, Jansen AT, Jongsma HJ, and Groenewegen WA. The human Cx40 promoter polymorphism 44G->A differentially affects transcriptional regulation by Sp1 and GATA4. Biochim Biophys Acta 1759: 491-496, 2006.
61. Firouzi M, Kok B, Spiering W, Busjahn A, Bezzina CR, Ruijter JM, Koeleman BP, Schipper M, Groenewegen WA, Jongsma HJ, and de Leeuw PW. Polymorphisms in human connexin40 gene promoter are associated with increased risk of hypertension in men. J Hypertens 24: 325-330, 2006.
62. Fleming I. Cytochrome P450 epoxygenases as EDHF synthase(s). Pharmacol Res 49: 525-533, 2004.
63. Gabbay KH. The sorbitol pathway and the complications of diabetes. N Engl J Med 288: 831-836, 1973.
64. Gabriels JE and Paul DL. Connexin43 is highly localized to sites of disturbed flow in rat aortic endothelium but connexin37 and connexin40 are more uniformly distributed. Circ Res 83: 636-643, 1998.
65. Garcia-Cardena G, Martasek P, Masters BS, Skidd PM, Couet J, Li S, Lisanti MP, and Sessa WC. Dissecting the interaction between nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and caveolin: functional significance of the nos caveolin binding domain in vivo. J Biol Chem 272: 25437-25440, 1997.
66. Giepmans BN and Moolenaar WH. The gap junction protein connexin43 interacts with the second PDZ domain of the zona occludens-1 protein. Curr Biol 8: 931-934, 1998.
67. Giepmans BN, Verlaan I, Hengeveld T, Janssen H, Calafat J, Falk MM, and Moolenaar WH. Gap junction protein connexin-43 interacts directly with microtubules. Curr Biol 11: 1364-1368, 2001.
68. Giepmans BN, Verlaan I, and Moolenaar WH. Connexin-43 interactions with ZO-1 and alpha- and beta-tubulin. Cell Commun Adhes 8: 219-223, 2001.
69. Giugliano D, Ceriello A, and Paolisso G. Oxidative stress and diabetic vascular complications. Diabetes Care 19: 257-267, 1996.
70. Goodenough DA and Paul DL. Beyond the gap: functions of unpaired connexon channels. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 4: 285-294, 2003.
71. Goto K, Fujii K, Kansui Y, Abe I, and Iida M. Critical role of gap junctions in endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization in rat mesenteric arteries. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 29: 595-602, 2002.
72. Goto K, Rummery NM, Grayson TH, and Hill CE. Attenuation of conducted vasodilatation in rat mesenteric arteries during hypertension: role of inwardly rectifying potassium channels. J Physiol 561: 215-231, 2004.
73. Grayson TH. Is Cx40 a marker for hypertension? J Hypertens 24: 279-280, 2006.
74. Griffith TM. Endothelium-dependent smooth muscle hyperpolarization: do gap junctions provide a unifying hypothesis? Br J Pharmacol 141: 881-903, 2004.
75. Griffith TM, Chaytor AT, and Edwards DH. The obligatory link: role of gap junctional communication in endothelium-dependent smooth muscle hyperpolarization. Pharmacol Res 49: 551-564, 2004.
76. Gustafsson F and Holstein-Rathlou N. Conducted vasomotor responses in arterioles: characteristics, mechanisms and physiological significance. Acta Physiol Scand 167: 11-21, 1999.
77. Haefliger JA, Castillo E, Waeber G, Bergonzelli GE, Aubert JF, Sutter E, Nicod P, Waeber B, and Meda P. Hypertension increases connexin43 in a tissue-specific manner. Circulation 95: 1007-1014, 1997.
78. Haefliger JA, Demotz S, Braissant O, Suter E, Waeber B, Nicod P, and Meda P. Connexins 40 and 43 are differentially regulated within the kidneys of rats with renovascular hypertension. Kidney Int 60: 190-201, 2001.
79. Haefliger JA, Krattinger N, Martin D, Pedrazzini T, Capponi A, Doring B, Plum A, Charollais A, Willecke K, and Meda P. Connexin43-dependent mechanism modulates renin secretion and hypertension. J Clin Invest 116: 405-413, 2006.
80. Haefliger JA, Meda P, Formenton A, Wiesel P, Zanchi A, Brunner HR, Nicod P, and Hayoz D. Aortic connexin43 is decreased during hypertension induced by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 19: 1615-1622, 1999.
81. Haefliger JA, Nicod P, and Meda P. Contribution of connexins to the function of the vascular wall. Cardiovasc Res 62: 345-356, 2004.
82. Harder DR, Alkayed NJ, Lange AR, Gebremedhin D, and Roman RJ. Functional hyperemia in the brain: hypothesis for astrocyte-derived vasodilator metabolites. Stroke 29: 229-234, 1998.
83. Hawkins BT and Davis TP. The blood-brain barrier/neurovascular unit in health and disease. Pharmacol Rev 57: 173-185, 2005.
84. He DS, Jiang JX, Taffet SM, and Burt JM. Formation of heteromeric gap junction channels by connexins 40 and 43 in vascular smooth muscle cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 96: 6495-6500, 1999.
85. Hill CE, Rummery N, Hickey H, and Sandow SL. Heterogeneity in the distribution of vascular gap junctions and connexins: implications for function. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 29: 620-625, 2002.
86. Hirashiki A, Yamada Y, Murase Y, Suzuki Y, Kataoka H, Morimoto Y, Tajika T, Murohara T, and Yokota M. Association of gene polymorphisms with coronary artery disease in low- or high-risk subjects defined by conventional risk factors. J Am Coll Cardiol 42: 1429-1437, 2003.
87. Hirst GD, Edwards FR, Gould DJ, Sandow SL, and Hill CE. Electrical properties of iridial arterioles of the rat. Am J Physiol 273: H2465-H2472, 1997.
88. Hirst GD and Neild TO. An analysis of excitatory junctional potentials recorded from arterioles. J Physiol 280: 87-104, 1978.
89. Horiuchi T, Dietrich HH, Hongo K, and Dacey RG Jr. Mechanism of extracellular K+-induced local and conducted responses in cerebral penetrating arterioles. Stroke 33: 2692-2699, 2002.
90. Huang A, Wu Y, Sun D, Koller A, and Kaley G. Effect of estrogen on flow-induced dilation in NO deficiency: role of prostaglandins and EDHF. J Appl Physiol 91: 2561-2566, 2001.
91. Hwan SK and Beyer EC. Heterogeneous localization of connexin40 in the renal vasculature. Microvasc Res 59: 140-148, 2000.
92. Iadecola C, Yang G, Ebner TJ, and Chen G. Local and propagated vascular responses evoked by focal synaptic activity in cerebellar cortex. J Neurophysiol 78: 651-659, 1997.
93. Inai T, Mancuso MR, McDonald DM, Kobayashi J, Nakamura K, and Shibata Y. Shear stress-induced upregulation of connexin 43 expression in endothelial cells on upstream surfaces of rat cardiac valves. Histochem Cell Biol 122: 477-483, 2004.
94. Inoguchi T, Ueda F, Umeda F, Yamashita T, and Nawata H. Inhibition of intercellular communication via gap junction in cultured aortic endothelial cells by elevated. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 208: 492-497, 1995.
95. Inoguchi T, Yu HY, Imamura M, Kakimoto M, Kuroki T, Maruyama T, and Nawata H. Altered gap junction activity in cardiovascular tissues of diabetes. Med Electron Microsc 34: 86-91, 2001.
96. Isakson BE, Damon DN, Day KH, Liao Y, and Duling BR. Connexin40 and connexin43 in mouse aortic endothelium: evidence for coordinated regulation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 290: H1199-H1205, 2006.
97. Isakson BE and Duling BR. Heterocellular contact at the myoendothelial junction influences gap junction organization. Circ Res 97: 44-51, 2005.
98. Jantzi MC, Brett SE, Jackson WF, Corteling R, Vigmond EJ, and Welsh DG. Inward rectifying potassium channels facilitate cell-to-cell communication in hamster retractor muscle feed arteries. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 291: H1319-H1328, 2006.
99. Johnson TL and Nerem RM. Endothelial connexin 37, connexin 40, and connexin 43 respond uniquely to substrate and shear stress. Endothelium 14: 215-226, 2007.
100. Ju H, Zou R, Venema VJ, and Venema RC. Direct interaction of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase and caveolin-1 inhibits synthase activity. J Biol Chem 272: 18522-18525, 1997.
101. Kameritsch P, Hoffmann A, and Pohl U. Opposing effects of nitric oxide on different connexins expressed in the vascular system. Cell Commun Adhes 10: 305-309, 2003.
102. Kang N, Alexander G, Park JK, Maasch C, Buchwalow I, Luft FC, and Haller H. Differential expression of protein kinase C isoforms in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. Kidney Int 56: 1737-1750, 1999.
103. Kansui Y, Fujii K, Nakamura K, Goto K, Oniki H, Abe I, Shibata Y, and Iida M. Angiotensin II receptor blockade corrects altered expression of gap junctions in vascular endothelial cells from hypertensive rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 287: H216-H224, 2004.
104. Karagiannis J, Rand M, and Li CG. Role of gap junctions in endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-mediated vasodilatation in rat renal artery. Acta Pharmacol Sin 25: 1031-1037, 2004.
105. Kirchhoff S, Kim JS, Hagendorff A, Thonnissen E, Kruger O, Lamers WH, and Willecke K. Abnormal cardiac conduction and morphogenesis in connexin40 and connexin43 double-deficient mice. [see comments]. Circulation Research 87: 399-405, 2000.
106. Koehler RC, Gebremedhin D, and Harder DR. Role of astrocytes in cerebrovascular regulation. J Appl Physiol 100: 307-317, 2006.
107. Krattinger N, Capponi A, Mazzolai L, Aubert JF, Caille D, Nicod P, Waeber G, Meda P, and Haefliger JA. Connexin40 regulates renin production and blood pressure. Kidney Int 72: 814-822, 2007.
108. Kruger O, Beny JL, Chabaud F, Traub O, Theis M, Brix K, Kirchhoff S, and Willecke K. Altered dye diffusion and upregulation of connexin37 in mouse aortic endothelium deficient in connexin40. J Vasc Res 39: 160-172, 2002.
109. Kruger O, Plum A, Kim JS, Winterhager E, Maxeiner S, Hallas G, Kirchhoff S, Traub O, Lamers WH, and Willecke K. Defective vascular development in connexin 45-deficient mice. Development 127: 4179-4193, 2000.
110. Kurjiaka DT. The conduction of dilation along an arteriole is diminished in the cremaster muscle of hypertensive hamsters. J Vasc Res 41: 517-524, 2004.
111. Kurjiaka DT, Bender SB, Nye DD, Wiehler WB, and Welsh DG. Hypertension attenuates cell-to-cell communication in hamster retractor muscle feed arteries. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 288: H861-H870, 2005.
112. Kurjiaka DT, Steele TD, Olsen MV, and Burt JM. Gap junction permeability is diminished in proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol 275: C1674-C1682, 1998.
113. Kuroki T, Inoguchi T, Umeda F, Ueda F, and Nawata H. High glucose induces alteration of gap junction permeability and phosphorylation of connexin-43 in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells. Diabetes 47: 931-936, 1998.
114. Kurtz L, Schweda F, de Wit C, Kriz W, Witzgall R, Warth R, Sauter A, Kurtz A, and Wagner C. Lack of connexin 40 causes displacement of renin-producing cells from afferent arterioles to the extraglomerular mesangium. J Am Soc Nephrol 18: 1103-1111, 2007.
115. Kwak BR, Mulhaupt F, Veillard N, Gros DB, and Mach F. Altered pattern of vascular connexin expression in atherosclerotic plaques. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 22: 225-230, 2002.
116. Kwak BR, Pepper MS, Gros DB, and Meda P. Inhibition of endothelial wound repair by dominant negative connexin inhibitors. Mol Biol Cell 12: 831-845, 2001.
117. Kwak BR, Silacci P, Stergiopulos N, Hayoz D, and Meda P. Shear stress and cyclic circumferential stretch, but not pressure, alter connexin43 expression in endothelial cells. Cell Commun Adhes 12: 261-270, 2005.
118. Lagaud G, Karicheti V, Knot HJ, Christ GJ, and Laher I. Inhibitors of gap junctions attenuate myogenic tone in cerebral arteries. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 283: H2177-H2186, 2002.
119. Lee TS, Saltsman KA, Ohashi H, and King GL. Activation of protein kinase C by elevation of glucose concentration: proposal for a mechanism in the development of diabetic vascular complications. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 86: 5141-5145, 1989.
120. Levy BI, Ambrosio G, Pries AR, and Struijker-Boudier HA. Microcirculation in hypertension: a new target for treatment? Circulation 104: 735-740, 2001.
121. Leybaert L. Neurobarrier coupling in the brain: a partner of neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling? J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 25: 2-16, 2005.
122. Li X and Simard JM. Connexin45 gap junction channels in rat cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 281: H1890-H1898, 2001.
123. Liao Y, Day KH, Damon DN, and Duling BR. Endothelial cell-specific knockout of connexin 43 causes hypotension and bradycardia in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98: 9989-9994, 2001.
124. Liao Y, Regan CP, Manabe I, Owens GK, Day KH, Damon DN, and Duling BR. Smooth muscle-targeted knockout of connexin43 enhances neointimal formation in response to vascular injury. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 27: 1037-1042, 2007.
125. Lin D and Takemoto DJ. Oxidative activation of protein kinase Cgamma through the C1 domain: effects on gap junctions. J Biol Chem 280: 13682-13693, 2005.
126. Little TL, Beyer EC, and Duling BR. Connexin-43 and connexin-40 gap junctional proteins are present in arteriolar smooth-muscle and endothelium in-vivo. Am J Physiol 37: H729-H739, 1995.
127. Little TL, Xia J, and Duling BR. Dye tracers define differential endothelial and smooth-muscle coupling patterns within the arteriolar wall. Circ Res 76: 498-504, 1995.
128. Liu MY, Hattori Y, Sato A, Ichikawa R, Zhang XH, and Sakuma I. Ovariectomy attenuates hyperpolarization and relaxation mediated by endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in female rat mesenteric artery: a concomitant decrease in connexin-43 expression. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 40: 938-948, 2002.
129. Locke D, Liu J, and Harris AL. Lipid rafts prepared by different methods contain different connexin channels, but gap junctions are not lipid rafts. Biochemistry 44: 13027-13042, 2005.
130. Luksha L, Poston L, Gustafsson JA, Hultenby K, and Kublickiene K. The oestrogen receptor beta contributes to sex related differences in endothelial function of murine small arteries via EDHF. J Physiol 577: 945-955, 2006.
131. Martinez AD, Hayrapetyan V, Moreno AP, and Beyer EC. Connexin43 and connexin45 form heteromeric gap junction channels in which individual components determine permeability and regulation. Circ Res 90: 1100-1107, 2002.
132. Martinez AD and Saez JC. Arachidonic acid-induced dye uncoupling in rat cortical astrocytes is mediated by arachidonic acid byproducts. Brain Res 816: 411-423, 1999.
133. Martinez AD and Saez JC. Regulation of astrocyte gap junctions by hypoxia-reoxygenation. Brain Res Brain Res Rev 32: 250-258, 2000.
134. Mather S, Dora KA, Sandow SL, Winter P, and Garland CJ. Rapid endothelial cell-selective loading of connexin 40 antibody blocks endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor dilation in rat small mesenteric arteries. Circ Res 97: 399-407, 2005.
135. McDonnell DP. The molecular pharmacology of SERMs. Trends Endocrinol Metab 10: 301-311, 1999.
136. Mendelsohn ME and Karas RH. The protective effects of estrogen on the cardiovascular system. N Engl J Med 340: 1801-1811, 1999.
137. Metea MR and Newman EA. Calcium signaling in specialized glial cells. Glia 54: 650-655, 2006.
138. Metea MR and Newman EA. Glial cells dilate and constrict blood vessels: a mechanism of neurovascular coupling. J Neurosci 26: 2862-2870, 2006.
139. Michel JB, Feron O, Sacks D, and Michel T. Reciprocal regulation of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase by Ca2+-calmodulin and caveolin. J Biol Chem 272: 15583-15586, 1997.
140. Michel JB, Feron O, Sase K, Prabhakar P, and Michel T. Caveolin versus calmodulin. Counterbalancing allosteric modulators of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. J Biol Chem 272: 25907-25912, 1997.
141. Moreno AP. Biophysical properties of homomeric and heteromultimeric channels formed by cardiac connexins. Cardiovasc Res 62: 276-286, 2004.
142. Mulligan SJ and MacVicar BA. Calcium transients in astrocyte endfeet cause cerebrovascular constrictions. Nature 431: 195-199, 2004.
143. Nawate S, Fukao M, Sakuma I, Soma T, Nagai K, Takikawa O, Miwa S, and Kitabatake A. Reciprocal changes in endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor and nitric oxide system in the mesenteric artery of adult female rats following ovariectomy. Br J Pharmacol 144: 178-189, 2005.
144. Nedergaard M. Direct signaling from astrocytes to neurons in cultures of mammalian brain cells. Science 263: 1768-1771, 1994.
145. Nedergaard M, Ransom B, and Goldman SA. New roles for astrocytes: redefining the functional architecture of the brain. Trends Neurosci 26: 523-530, 2003.
146. Nowicki PT, Flavahan S, Hassanain H, Mitra S, Holland S, Goldschmidt-Clermont PJ, and Flavahan NA. Redox signaling of the arteriolar myogenic response. Circ Res 89: 114-116, 2001.
147. Nusrat A, Parkos CA, Verkade P, Foley CS, Liang TW, Innis-Whitehouse W, Eastburn KK, and Madara JL. Tight junctions are membrane microdomains. J Cell Sci 113: 1771-1781, 2000.
148. Ohashi M, Satoh K, and Itoh T. Acetylcholine-induced membrane potential changes in endothelial cells of rabbit aortic valve. Br J Pharmacol 126: 19-26, 1999.
149. Oku H, Kodama T, Sakagami K, and Puro DG. Diabetes-induced disruption of gap junction pathways within the retinal microvasculature. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 42: 1915-1920, 2001.
150. Pacicca C, Schaad O, and Beny JL. Electrotonic propagation of kinin-induced, endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations in pig coronary smooth muscles. J Vasc Res 33: 380-385, 1996.
151. Polacek D, Bech F, McKinsey JF, and Davies PF. Connexin43 gene expression in the rabbit arterial wall: effects of hypercholesterolemia, balloon injury and their combination. J Vasc Res 34: 19-30, 1997.
152. Pries AR, Secomb TW, and Gaehtgens P. Structural adaptation and stability of microvascular networks: theory and simulations. Am J Physiol 275: H349-H360, 1998.
153. Pries AR, Secomb TW, and Gaehtgens P. Structural autoregulation of terminal vascular beds: vascular adaptation and development of hypertension. Hypertension 33: 153-161, 1999.
154. Reaume AG, de Sousa PA, Kulkarni S, Langille BL, Zhu D, Davies TC, Juneja SC, Kidder GM, and Rossant J. Cardiac malformation in neonatal mice lacking connexin43. Science 267: 1831-1834, 1995.
155. Retamal MA, Cortes CJ, Reuss L, Bennett MV, and Saez JC. S-nitrosylation and permeation through connexin 43 hemichannels in astrocytes: induction by oxidant stress and reversal by reducing agents. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103: 4475-4480, 2006.
156. Roh CR, Heo JH, Yang SH, and Bae DS. Regulation of connexin 43 by nitric oxide in primary uterine myocytes from term pregnant women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 187: 434-440, 2002.
157. Rummery NM, Grayson TH, and Hill CE. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition restores endothelial but not medial connexin expression in hypertensive rats. J Hypertens 23: 317-328, 2005.
158. Rummery NM, Hickey H, McGurk G, and Hill CE. Connexin37 is the major connexin expressed in the media of caudal artery. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 22: 1427-1432, 2002.
159. Rummery NM and Hill CE. Vascular gap junctions and implications for hypertension. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 31: 659-667, 2004.
160. Rummery NM, McKenzie KU, Whitworth JA, and Hill CE. Decreased endothelial size and connexin expression in rat caudal arteries during hypertension. J Hypertens 20: 247-253, 2002.
161. Saez JC. Astrocytes as connexin-dependent signaling cells for local blood flow regulation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 294: H586-H587, 2008.
162. Saez JC, Berthoud VM, Branes MC, Martinez AD, and Beyer EC. Plasma membrane channels formed by connexins: their regulation and functions. Physiol Rev 83: 1359-1400, 2003.
163. Saez JC, Retamal MA, Basilio D, Bukauskas FF, and Bennett MV. Connexin-based gap junction hemichannels: gating mechanisms. Biochim Biophys Acta 1711: 215-224, 2005.
164. Sandow SL, Bramich NJ, Bandi HP, Rummery NM, and Hill CE. Structure, function, and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in the caudal artery of the SHR and WKY rat. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 23: 822-828, 2003.
165. Sandow SL and Hill CE. Incidence of myoendothelial gap junctions in the proximal and distal mesenteric arteries of the rat is suggestive of a role in endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-mediated responses. Circ Res 86: 341-346, 2000.
166. Sandow SL, Looft-Wilson R, Doran B, Grayson TH, Segal SS, and Hill CE. Expression of homocellular and heterocellular gap junctions in hamster arterioles and feed arteries. Cardiovasc Res 60: 643-653, 2003.
167. Sato T, Haimovici R, Kao R, Li AF, and Roy S. Downregulation of connexin 43 expression by high glucose reduces gap junction activity in microvascular endothelial cells. Diabetes 51: 1565-1571, 2002.
168. Schubert AL, Schubert W, Spray DC, and Lisanti MP. Connexin family members target to lipid raft domains and interact with caveolin-1. Biochemistry 41: 5754-5764, 2002.
169. Scotland RS, Madhani M, Chauhan S, Moncada S, Andresen J, Nilsson H, Hobbs AJ, and Ahluwalia A. Investigation of vascular responses in endothelial nitric oxide synthase/cyclooxygenase-1 double-knockout mice: key role for endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in the regulation of blood pressure in vivo. Circulation 111: 796-803, 2005.
170. Segal SS. Cell-to-cell communication coordinates blood flow control. Hypertension 23: 1113-1120, 1994.
171. Segal SS. Integration of blood flow control to skeletal muscle: key role of feed arteries. Acta Physiol Scand 168: 511-518, 2000.
172. Segal SS. Regulation of blood flow in the microcirculation. Microcirculation 12: 33-45, 2005.
173. Segal SS, Damon DN, and Duling BR. Propagation of vasomotor responses coordinates arteriolar resistances. Am J Physiol 256: H832-H837, 1989.
174. Segal SS and Duling BR. Communication between feed arteries and
175. Segal SS and Duling BR. Conduction of vasomotor responses in arterioles: a role for cell-to-cell coupling. Am J Physiol 256: H838-H845, 1989.
176. Segal SS and Jacobs TL. Role for endothelial cell conduction in ascending vasodilatation and exercise hyperaemia in hamster skeletal muscle. J Physiol 536: 937-946, 2001.
177. Segal SS and Kurjiaka DT. Coordination of blood flow control in the resistance vasculature of skeletal muscle. Med Sci Sports Exerc 27: 1158-1164, 1995.
178. Severs NJ, Rothery S, Dupont E, Coppen SR, Yeh HI, Ko YS, Matsushita T, Kaba R, and Halliday D. Immunocytochemical analysis of connexin expression in the healthy and diseased cardiovascular system. Microsc Res Tech 52: 301-322, 2001.
179. Sheridan JD. Dye transfer in small vessels from rat omentum: homologous and heterologous junctions. J Cell Biol 87: 61a, 1980.
180. Shimokawa H and Morikawa K. Hydrogen peroxide is an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in animals and humans. J Mol Cell Cardiol 39: 725-732, 2005.
181. Shimokawa H, Yasutake H, Fujii K, Owada MK, Nakaike R, Fukumoto Y, Takayanagi T, Nagao T, Egashira K, Fujishima M, and Takeshita A. The importance of the hyperpolarizing mechanism increases as the vessel size decreases in endothelium-dependent relaxations in rat mesenteric circulation. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 28: 703-711, 1996.
182. Simon AM and Goodenough DA. Diverse functions of vertebrate gap junctions. Trends Cell Biol 8: 477-483, 1998.
183. Simon AM and McWhorter AR. Vascular abnormalities in mice lacking the endothelial gap junction proteins connexin37 and connexin40. Dev Biol 251: 206-220, 2002.
184. Simon AM and McWhorter AR. Decreased intercellular dye-transfer and downregulation of non-ablated connexins in aortic endothelium deficient in connexin37 or connexin40. J Cell Sci 116: 2223-2236, 2003.
185. Song H and Tyml K. Evidence for sensing and integration of biological signals by the capillary network. Am J Physiol 265: H1235-H1242, 1993.
186. Stout CE, Costantin JL, Naus CC, and Charles AC. Intercellular calcium signaling in astrocytes via ATP release through connexin hemichannels. J Biol Chem 277: 10482-10488, 2002.
187. Straub SV, Bonev AD, Wilkerson MK, and Nelson MT. Dynamic inositol trisphosphate-mediated calcium signals within astrocytic endfeet underlie vasodilation of cerebral arterioles. J Gen Physiol 128: 659-669, 2006.
188. Suadicani SO, Brosnan CF, and Scemes E. P2X7 receptors mediate ATP release and amplification of astrocytic intercellular Ca2+ signaling. J Neurosci 26: 1378-1385, 2006.
189. Takano T, Tian GF, Peng W, Lou N, Libionka W, Han X, and Nedergaard M. Astrocyte-mediated control of cerebral blood flow. Nat Neurosci 9: 260-267, 2006.
190. Tulenko TN. Regulating cross-talk between vascular smooth muscle cells. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 23: 1707-1709, 2003.
191. van Kempen MJ and Jongsma HJ. Distribution of connexin37, connexin40 and connexin43 in the aorta and coronary artery of several mammals. Histochem Cell Biol 112: 479-486, 1999.
192. van Kempen MJ, ten Velde I, Wessels A, Oosthoek PW, Gros D, Jongsma HJ, Moorman AF, and Lamers WH. Differential connexin distribution accommodates cardiac function in different species. Microsc Res Tech 31: 420-436, 1995.
193. Vanhoutte PM. Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations: the history. Pharmacol Res 49: 503-508, 2004.
194. Vlassara H, Fuh H, Makita Z, Krungkrai S, Cerami A, and Bucala R. Exogenous advanced glycosylation end products induce complex vascular dysfunction in normal animals: a model for diabetic and aging complications. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 89: 12043-12047, 1992.
195. Wagner C, de Wit C, Gerl M, Kurtz A, and Hocherl K. Increased expression of cyclooxygenase 2 contributes to aberrant renin production in connexin 40-deficient kidneys. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 293: R1781-R1786, 2007.
196. Wagner C, de Wit C, Kurtz L, Grunberger C, Kurtz A, and Schweda F. Connexin40 is essential for the pressure control of renin synthesis and secretion. Circ Res 100: 556-563, 2007.
197. Walker DL, Vacha SJ, Kirby ML, and Lo CW. Connexin43 deficiency causes dysregulation of coronary vasculogenesis. Dev Biol 284: 479-498, 2005.
198. Watanabe S, Yashiro Y, Mizuno R, and Ohhashi T. Involvement of NO and EDHF in flow-induced vasodilation in isolated hamster cremasteric arterioles. J Vasc Res 42: 137-147, 2005.
199. Watts SW and Webb RC. Vascular gap junctional communication is increased in mineralocorticoid-salt hypertension. Hypertension 28: 888-893, 1996.
200. Wei CJ, Francis R, Xu X, and Lo CW. Connexin43 associated with an N-cadherin-containing multiprotein complex is required for gap junction formation in NIH3T3 cells. J Biol Chem 280: 19925-19936, 2005.
201. Wei CJ, Xu X, and Lo CW. Connexins and cell signaling in development and disease. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 20: 811-838, 2004.
202. Welsh DG and Segal SS. Endothelial and smooth muscle cell conduction in arterioles controlling blood flow. Am J Physiol 274: H178-H186, 1998.
203. White TW. Nonredundant gap junction functions. News Physiol Sci 18: 95-99, 2003.
204. White TW and Bruzzone R. Multiple connexin proteins in single intercellular channels: connexin compatibility and functional consequences. J Bioenerg Biomembr 28: 339-350, 1996.
205. Williams B and Schrier RW. Glucose-induced protein kinase C activity regulates arachidonic acid release and eicosanoid production by cultured glomerular mesangial cells. J Clin Invest 92: 2889-2896, 1993.
206. Wolfle SE, Schmidt VJ, Hoepfl B, Gebert A, Alcolea S, Gros D, and de Wit C. Connexin45 cannot replace the function of connexin40 in conducting endothelium-dependent dilations along arterioles. Circ Res 101: 1292-1299, 2007.
207. Wong CW, Christen T, Roth I, Chadjichristos CE, Derouette JP, Foglia BF, Chanson M, Goodenough DA, and Kwak BR. Connexin37 protects against atherosclerosis by regulating monocyte adhesion. Nat Med 12: 950-954, 2006.
208. Xia J and Duling BR. Electromechanical coupling and the conducted vasomotor response. Am J Physiol 38: H2022-H2030, 1995.
209. Xia J, Little TL, and Duling BR. Cellular pathways of the conducted electrical response in arterioles of hamster cheek pouch in vitro. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 38: H2031-H2038, 1995.
210. Xu HL, Mao L, Ye S, Paisansathan C, Vetri F, and Pelligrino DA. Astrocytes are a key conduit for upstream signaling of vasodilation during cerebral cortical neuronal activation in vivo. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 294: H622-H632, 2007.
211. Yamada Y, Ichihara S, Izawa H, Tanaka M, and Yokota M. Genetic risk for coronary artery disease in individuals with or without type 2 diabetes. Mol Genet Metab 81: 282-290, 2004.
212. Yamada Y, Izawa H, Ichihara S, Takatsu F, Ishihara H, Hirayama H, Sone T, Tanaka M, and Yokota M. Prediction of the risk of myocardial infarction from polymorphisms in candidate genes. N Engl J Med 347: 1916-1923, 2002.
213. Yeh HI, Lee PY, Su CH, Tian TY, Ko YS, and Tsai CH. Reduced expression of endothelial connexins 43 and 37 in hypertensive rats is rectified after 7-day carvedilol treatment. Am J Hypertens 19: 129-135, 2006.
214. Yeh HI, Lupu F, Dupont E, and Severs NJ. Upregulation of connexin43 gap junctions between smooth muscle cells after balloon catheter injury in the rat carotid artery. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 17: 3174-3184, 1997.
215. Zhang J and Hill CE. Differential connexin expression in preglomerular and postglomerular vasculature: accentuation during diabetes. Kidney Int 68: 1171-1185, 2005.
216. Zheng-Fischhofer Q, Ghanem A, Kim JS, Kibschull M, Schwarz G, Schwab JO, Nagy J, Winterhager E, Tiemann K, and Willecke K. Connexin31 cannot functionally replace connexin43 during cardiac morphogenesis in mice. J Cell Sci 119: 693-701, 2006.
217. Zhu Y, Bian Z, Lu P, Karas RH, Bao L, Cox D, Hodgin J, Shaul PW, Thoren P, Smithies O, Gustafsson JA, and Mendelsohn ME. Abnormal vascular function and hypertension in mice deficient in estrogen receptor beta. Science 295: 505-508, 2002.
218. Zonta M, Angulo MC, Gobbo S, Rosengarten B, Hossmann KA, Pozzan T, and Carmignoto G. Neuron-to-astrocyte signaling is central to the dynamic control of brain microcirculation. Nat Neurosci 6: 43-50, 2003.