The inhibition of proliferation or functional alteration of osteoblasts by glucocorticoids (GCs) has been recognized as an important etiology of GC-induced osteoporosis (GIO). Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the most abundant connexin isoform in bone cells and plays important roles in bone remodeling. Despite the important role of Cx43 in bone homeostasis and the prevalence of GIO, the direct action of GCs on Cx43 expression in osteoblasts has been poorly described. The aim of the present study was to evaluate how GCs affect Cx43 expression in osteoblasts. Dexamethasone (Dex) treatment decreased expression of Cx43 RNA and protein in MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblastic cells. Reduction of Cx43 expression by Dex was dependent on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), as it was abolished by pretreatment with a GR blocker. Treatment with PTH (1-34), a medication used for GIO management, counteracted the suppression of Cx43 by Dex. Akt or mTOR signaling modulators revealed the involvement of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in Dex-induced reduction of Cx43 expression. Moreover, overexpression of Cx43 significantly attenuated Dex-inhibited cell viability and proliferation, as evidenced by MTT and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay of MC3T3-E1 cells. To account for possible species or cell type differences, human primary osteoblasts were treated with Dex and similar downregulation of Cx43 by Dex was observed. In addition, immunofluorescent staining for Cx43 further demonstrated an apparent decrease in Dex-treated human osteoblasts, while analysis of lucifer yellow propagation revealed reduced gap junction intercellular communication by Dex. Collectively, these findings indicate that GCs suppress Cx43 expression in osteoblasts via GR and the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and overexpression of Cx43 may, at least in part, rescue osteoblasts from GC-induced reductions in proliferation.
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Int J Mol Sci
January 2025
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan Branch, Taoyuan 33304, Taiwan.
The electrophysiological mechanisms underlying melatonin's actions and the electrophysiological consequences of superimposed therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in preventing cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury-induced arrhythmias remain largely unknown. This study aimed to unveil these issues using acute IR-injured hearts. Rabbits were divided into heart failure (HF), HF+melatonin, control, and control+melatonin groups.
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Department of Endodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA.
Craniometaphyseal dysplasia (CMD), a rare craniotubular disorder, occurs in an autosomal dominant (AD) or autosomal recessive (AR) form. CMD is characterized by hyperostosis of craniofacial bones and metaphyseal flaring of long bones. Many patients with CMD suffer from neurological symptoms.
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January 2025
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
Here we characterize seven Cx30.3 gene variants (R22H, S26Y, P61R, C86S, E99K, T130M and M190L) clinically associated with the rare skin disorder erythrokeratodermia variabilis et progressiva (EKVP) in tissue-relevant and differentiation-competent rat epidermal keratinocytes (REKs). We found that all variants, when expressed alone or together with wildtype (WT) Cx30.
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Department of Orthopaedics, Air Force Hospital of Eastern Theater, Anhui Medical University, Nanjing 230032, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Int Immunopharmacol
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Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address:
Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) is one of the most severe side effects of doxorubicin, yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Our results showed that Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) accumulated in plasma and cardiac tissue after doxorubicin treatment. The inhibition of NETs formation by Pad4 gene ablation significantly attenuated doxorubicin-induced arrhythmia, prolonged survival time and reduced the levels of Troponin T (cTnT) and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) in mice.
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