Open Access

The role of gap junctions in inflammatory and neoplastic disorders (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Pui Wong
    • Victoria Laxton
    • Saurabh Srivastava
    • Yin Wah Fiona Chan
    • Gary Tse
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 17, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2017.2859
  • Pages: 498-506
  • Copyright : © Wong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].

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Abstract

Gap junctions are intercellular channels made of connexin proteins, mediating both electrical and biochemical signals between cells. The ability of gap junction proteins to regulate immune responses, cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and carcinogenesis makes them attractive therapeutic targets for treating inflammatory and neoplastic disorders in different organ systems. Alterations in gap junction profile and expression levels are observed in hyperproliferative skin disorders, lymphatic vessel diseases, inflammatory lung diseases, liver injury and neoplastic disorders. It is now recognized that the therapeutic effects mediated by traditional pharmacological agents are dependent upon gap junction communication and may even act by influencing gap junction expression or function. Novel strategies for modulating the function or expression of connexins, such as the use of synthetic mimetic peptides and siRNA technology are considered.
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March-2017
Volume 39 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Wong P, Laxton V, Srivastava S, Chan YW and Tse G: The role of gap junctions in inflammatory and neoplastic disorders (Review). Int J Mol Med 39: 498-506, 2017
APA
Wong, P., Laxton, V., Srivastava, S., Chan, Y.W., & Tse, G. (2017). The role of gap junctions in inflammatory and neoplastic disorders (Review). International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 39, 498-506. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2017.2859
MLA
Wong, P., Laxton, V., Srivastava, S., Chan, Y. W., Tse, G."The role of gap junctions in inflammatory and neoplastic disorders (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 39.3 (2017): 498-506.
Chicago
Wong, P., Laxton, V., Srivastava, S., Chan, Y. W., Tse, G."The role of gap junctions in inflammatory and neoplastic disorders (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 39, no. 3 (2017): 498-506. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2017.2859