Cardiff Metropolitan University
Browse

Cross-regulation of Connexin43 and b-catenin influences differentiation of human neural progenitor cells

Download (2.58 MB)
journal contribution
posted on 2022-05-19, 17:01 authored by F. Rinaldi, E.M. Hartfield, L.A. Crompton, J.L. Badger, C.P. Glover, Claire KellyClaire Kelly, A.E. Rosser, J.B. Uney, M.A. Caldwell

 Connexin43 (Cx43) is the most widely and abundantly expressed gap junction (GJ) protein and it is strongly associated with the regulation of cell cycle progression. Emerging roles for Cx43 in cell adhesion and migration during neural differentiation have also been recently recognized, and this has emphasized the involvement of Cx43 in different physiological process beyond its role as a GJ protein. In this study, we explore the function of Cx43 in the differentiation of human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) using viral vectors that mediate the overexpression or knockdown of the protein. Results showed that in the absence of this protein fetal cortex-derived hNPCs differentiated toward a neuronal phenotype at expenses of a glial phenotype. Furthermore, the silencing of Cx43 did not affect hNPC proliferation rate or numbers of apoptotic cells. The increase in the number of neurons was not recapitulated when GJ intercellular communications were pharmacologically blocked, and this suggested that Cx43 was influencing hNPCs differentiation with a GJ-independent effect. In addition, Cx43 knockdown significantly increased β-catenin signaling, which has been shown to regulate the transcription of pro-neuronal genes during embryonic neural development. Our results add further support to the hypothesis that Cx43 protein itself regulates key signaling pathways during development and neurogenesis beyond its role as GJ protein. 

History

Published in

Cell Death & Disease

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Citation

Rinaldi, F., Hartfield, E.M., Crompton, L.A., Badger, J.L., Glover, C.P., Kelly, C.M., Rosser, A.E., Uney, J.B. and Caldwell, M.A. (2014) 'Cross-regulation of Connexin43 and β-catenin influences differentiation of human neural progenitor cells', Cell Death & Disease, 5(1), p.e1017

Electronic ISSN

2041-4889

Cardiff Met Affiliation

  • Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences

Cardiff Met Authors

Claire Kelly

Cardiff Met Research Centre/Group

  • Cellular Senescence and Pathophysiology

Copyright Holder

  • © The Publisher

Language

  • en

Usage metrics

    Cardiovascular Health & Ageing - Journal Articles

    Categories

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC