The effect of connexin43 on the level of vascular endothelial growth factor in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Background: Connexins (Cx) are the basic units of gap junctions and contribute to cellular integrity by promoting intercellular communication. Disruption of the retinal pigment epithelial monolayer may be an early event in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration, a condition in which vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be of importance. This study was designed to assess the effect of connexin43 (Cx43) expression and gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) on the expression and secretion of VEGF from the retinal pigment epithelium under normal cell culture and oxidative stress conditions.

Methods: Stable cell lines of ARPE-19 were produced in which wild-type Cx43 was either over-expressed, down-regulated by targeted shRNA, or functionally inhibited by co-expression of a disease-linked dominant-negative mutant (G21R). Pharmacologic blockade of GJIC was accomplished with flufenamic acid. Oxidant challenge was performed with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBH). VEGF gene expression and secretion were assessed by real-time PCR and ELISA respectively.

Results: Over-expression of Cx43 in ARPE-19 cells reduced both gene expression and secretion of VEGF. Down-regulation of Cx43 increased gene expression and secretion of VEGF. Increased secretion of VEGF was also observed in ARPE-19 cells expressing a dominant-negative mutant of Cx43, and when GJIC was blocked. Over-expression of Cx43 reduced tBH-induced secretion of VEGF from ARPE-19 cells.

Conclusions: These studies show that Cx43 protects against oxidative stress-induced VEGF secretion in ARPE-19 cells, and thus has important implications in understanding the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration.