Diseases associated with leaky hemichannels.

• Main Authors: Mauricio Antonio Retamal, Edison Pablo Reyes, Isaac E Garcia, Bernardo ePinto, Agustin Demetrio Martinez, Carlos eGonzalez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015-07-01
• Series: Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
• Subjects: Cell Death; Connexins; mutations; Human Disease; hemichannels; gap junction channels
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2015.00267/full

Hemichannels (HCs) and gap junction channels (GJCs) formed by protein subunits called connexins (Cxs) are major pathways for intercellular communication. While HCs connect the intracellular compartment with the extracellular milieu, GJCs allow the interchange of molecules between cytoplasm of two contacting cells. Under physiological conditions, HCs are mostly closed, but they can open under certain stimuli allowing the release of autocrine and paracrine molecules. Moreover, some pathological conditions, like ischemia or other inflammation conditions, significantly increase HCs activity. In addition, some mutations in Cx genes associated with human diseases, such as deafness or cataracts, lead to the formation of more active HCs or leaky HCs. In this article we will revise cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the appearance of leaky HCs, and the consequences of their expression in different cellular systems and animal models, in seeking a common pattern or pathological mechanism of disease.