Connexin 43 affects thoracic ossification of ligamentum flavum by regulating the p38 MAPK-RUNX2 signaling pathway.

This study aimed to investigate the role of connexin 43 (CX43) in thoracic ossification of ligamentum flavum (TOLF) based on the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK)-runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) pathway. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect CX43 expression in TOLF and non-TOLF patients, fibroblasts of TOLF were isolated and induced osteogenic differentiation, and CX43 expression was detected by western blot analysis (WB). In addition, si-CX43 was used to intervene CX43, and SB203580 was used to inhibit the p38MAPK.