Topic: connexin43

In recent years, a pivotal role of gliotransmission in homeostatic synaptic plasticity has been highlighted and glial-derived ATP arises as a key contributor. However, very little is known about the glial non-vesicular ATP-release pathway and how ATP participates in the modulation of synaptic strength. In this work, we have analyzed the functional changes occurring in neurons upon chronic activity blockade and the role of the purinergic signaling, connexin43 and pannexin1 hemichannels in this process. By using hippocampal dissociated cultures, we showed that blocking connexin43 and pannexin1 h

High-grade gliomas (HGGs) include astrocytoma and glioblastoma. They are characterized by aggressiveness, intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity, and infiltrating ability, decreasing the efficacy of resection and therapies. Glioma invasiveness depends on the dynamic interaction between glial cells, mainly microglia, and astrocytes. Accordingly, extra-CNS metastasis remains a rare clinical entity. Astrocytic connexin43 (Cx43) is under microglia control. Cx43-mediated signaling profoundly impacts HGGs invasion and could be a potential target in the glia-HGGs communication. However, it needs furthe

High-frequency oscillations (HFOs) have been observed to be particularly prominent in brain regions responsible for seizure initiation and propagation. Connexins play a crucial role in fast intercellular communication within the brain, as they are integral components of gap junctions, which facilitate direct cytoplasmic connections between neighboring cells. Recent studies identified clusters of connexins within the rodent CNS, specifically along the axon initial segment (AIS), a critical neuronal microdomain responsible for the initiation of action potentials. However, details about the subce