PLoS ONE (Jan 2007)

A novel role for connexin hemichannel in oxidative stress and smoking-induced cell injury.

  • Srinivasan Ramachandran,
  • Lai-Hua Xie,
  • Scott A John,
  • Shankar Subramaniam,
  • Ratnesh Lal

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000712
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 8
p. e712

Abstract

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Oxidative stress is linked to many pathological conditions, including ischemia, atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders. The molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress induced pathophysiology and cell death are currently poorly understood. Our present work demonstrates that oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species and cigarette smoke extract depolarize the cell membrane and open connexin hemichannels. Under oxidative stress, connexin expression and connexin silencing resulted in increased and reduced cell deaths, respectively. Morphological and live/dead assays indicate that cell death is likely through apoptosis. Our studies provide new insights into the mechanistic role of hemichannels in oxidative stress induced cell injury.