Connexin Hemichannels in Astrocytes: An Assessment of Controversies Regarding Their Functional Characteristics

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Standard

Connexin Hemichannels in Astrocytes : An Assessment of Controversies Regarding Their Functional Characteristics. / Nielsen, Brian Skriver; Hansen, Daniel Bloch; Ransom, Bruce R.; Nielsen, Morten Schak; MacAulay, Nanna.

In: Neurochemical Research, Vol. 42, No. 9, 09.2017, p. 2537–2550.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Nielsen, BS, Hansen, DB, Ransom, BR, Nielsen, MS & MacAulay, N 2017, 'Connexin Hemichannels in Astrocytes: An Assessment of Controversies Regarding Their Functional Characteristics', Neurochemical Research, vol. 42, no. 9, pp. 2537–2550. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-017-2243-7

APA

Nielsen, B. S., Hansen, D. B., Ransom, B. R., Nielsen, M. S., & MacAulay, N. (2017). Connexin Hemichannels in Astrocytes: An Assessment of Controversies Regarding Their Functional Characteristics. Neurochemical Research, 42(9), 2537–2550. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-017-2243-7

Vancouver

Nielsen BS, Hansen DB, Ransom BR, Nielsen MS, MacAulay N. Connexin Hemichannels in Astrocytes: An Assessment of Controversies Regarding Their Functional Characteristics. Neurochemical Research. 2017 Sep;42(9):2537–2550. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-017-2243-7

Author

Nielsen, Brian Skriver ; Hansen, Daniel Bloch ; Ransom, Bruce R. ; Nielsen, Morten Schak ; MacAulay, Nanna. / Connexin Hemichannels in Astrocytes : An Assessment of Controversies Regarding Their Functional Characteristics. In: Neurochemical Research. 2017 ; Vol. 42, No. 9. pp. 2537–2550.

Bibtex

@article{b130124b7cc24efdaaa70143e2aa2c11,
title = "Connexin Hemichannels in Astrocytes: An Assessment of Controversies Regarding Their Functional Characteristics",
abstract = "Astrocytes in the mammalian central nervous system are interconnected by gap junctions made from connexins of the subtypes Cx30 and Cx43. These proteins may exist as hemichannels in the plasma membrane in the absence of a {\textquoteleft}docked{\textquoteright} counterpart on the neighboring cell. A variety of stimuli are reported to open the hemichannels and thereby create a permeation pathway through the plasma membrane. Cx30 and Cx43 have, in their hemichannel configuration, been proposed to act as ion channels and membrane pathways for different molecules, such as fluorescent dyes, ATP, prostaglandins, and glutamate. Published studies about astrocyte hemichannel behavior, however, have been highly variable and/or contradictory. The field of connexin hemichannel research has been complicated by great variability in the experimental preparations employed, a lack of highly specific pharmacological inhibitors and by confounding changes associated with genetically modified animal models. This review attempts to critically assess the gating, inhibition and permeability of astrocytic connexin hemichannels and proposes that connexins in their hemichannel configuration act as gated pores with isoform-specific permeant selectivity. We expect that some, or all, of the controversies discussed here will be resolved by future research and sincerely hope that this review serves to motivate such clarifying investigations.",
keywords = "Connexin, Current, Cx30, Cx43, Gating, Hemichannels, Isoforms, Permeability",
author = "Nielsen, {Brian Skriver} and Hansen, {Daniel Bloch} and Ransom, {Bruce R.} and Nielsen, {Morten Schak} and Nanna MacAulay",
year = "2017",
month = sep,
doi = "10.1007/s11064-017-2243-7",
language = "English",
volume = "42",
pages = "2537–2550",
journal = "Neurochemical Research",
issn = "0364-3190",
publisher = "Springer",
number = "9",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Connexin Hemichannels in Astrocytes

T2 - An Assessment of Controversies Regarding Their Functional Characteristics

AU - Nielsen, Brian Skriver

AU - Hansen, Daniel Bloch

AU - Ransom, Bruce R.

AU - Nielsen, Morten Schak

AU - MacAulay, Nanna

PY - 2017/9

Y1 - 2017/9

N2 - Astrocytes in the mammalian central nervous system are interconnected by gap junctions made from connexins of the subtypes Cx30 and Cx43. These proteins may exist as hemichannels in the plasma membrane in the absence of a ‘docked’ counterpart on the neighboring cell. A variety of stimuli are reported to open the hemichannels and thereby create a permeation pathway through the plasma membrane. Cx30 and Cx43 have, in their hemichannel configuration, been proposed to act as ion channels and membrane pathways for different molecules, such as fluorescent dyes, ATP, prostaglandins, and glutamate. Published studies about astrocyte hemichannel behavior, however, have been highly variable and/or contradictory. The field of connexin hemichannel research has been complicated by great variability in the experimental preparations employed, a lack of highly specific pharmacological inhibitors and by confounding changes associated with genetically modified animal models. This review attempts to critically assess the gating, inhibition and permeability of astrocytic connexin hemichannels and proposes that connexins in their hemichannel configuration act as gated pores with isoform-specific permeant selectivity. We expect that some, or all, of the controversies discussed here will be resolved by future research and sincerely hope that this review serves to motivate such clarifying investigations.

AB - Astrocytes in the mammalian central nervous system are interconnected by gap junctions made from connexins of the subtypes Cx30 and Cx43. These proteins may exist as hemichannels in the plasma membrane in the absence of a ‘docked’ counterpart on the neighboring cell. A variety of stimuli are reported to open the hemichannels and thereby create a permeation pathway through the plasma membrane. Cx30 and Cx43 have, in their hemichannel configuration, been proposed to act as ion channels and membrane pathways for different molecules, such as fluorescent dyes, ATP, prostaglandins, and glutamate. Published studies about astrocyte hemichannel behavior, however, have been highly variable and/or contradictory. The field of connexin hemichannel research has been complicated by great variability in the experimental preparations employed, a lack of highly specific pharmacological inhibitors and by confounding changes associated with genetically modified animal models. This review attempts to critically assess the gating, inhibition and permeability of astrocytic connexin hemichannels and proposes that connexins in their hemichannel configuration act as gated pores with isoform-specific permeant selectivity. We expect that some, or all, of the controversies discussed here will be resolved by future research and sincerely hope that this review serves to motivate such clarifying investigations.

KW - Connexin

KW - Current

KW - Cx30

KW - Cx43

KW - Gating

KW - Hemichannels

KW - Isoforms

KW - Permeability

U2 - 10.1007/s11064-017-2243-7

DO - 10.1007/s11064-017-2243-7

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28434165

AN - SCOPUS:85018824585

VL - 42

SP - 2537

EP - 2550

JO - Neurochemical Research

JF - Neurochemical Research

SN - 0364-3190

IS - 9

ER -

ID: 182419047