Heart Rhythm
Volume 6, Issue 11 , Pages 1639-1640 , November 2009

Connexin, connection, conductance: Towards understanding induction of arrhythmias?

  • R. Sundset, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Section of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital North Norway, Tromsoe, Norway
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests and correspondence: Rune Sundset, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Section of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway
    • ,
  • K. Ytrehus, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsoe, Tromsoe, Norway
    • ,
  • S.-O. Mikalsen, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Faroe Islands, Tórshavn, The Faroe Islands

References 

  1. Pogwizd SM, Hoyt RH, Saffitz JE, Corr PB, Cox JL, Cain ME. Reentrant and focal mechanisms underlying ventricular tachycardia in the human heart. Circulation. 1992;86:1872–1887
  2. Cruciani V, Mikalsen SO. The vertebrate connexin family. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2006;63:1125–1140
  3. Saez JC, Berthoud VM, Branes MC, Martinez AD, Beyer EC. Plasma membrane channels formed by connexins: their regulation and functions. Physiol Rev. 2003;83:1359–1400
  4. Procida K, Jørgensen L, Schmitt N, et al. Phosphorylation of connexin43 on serine 306 regulates electrical coupling. Heart Rhythm. 2009;6:1632–1638
  5. Solan JL, Lampe PD. Connexin43 phosphorylation: structural changes and biological effects. Biochem J. 2009;419:261–272
  6. Moreno AP, Lau AF. Gap junction channel gating modulated through protein phosphorylation. Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 2007;94:107–119
  7. Saffitz JE, Laing JG, Yamada KA. Connexin expression and turnover: implications for cardiac excitability. Circ Res. 2000;86:723–728
  8. Beardslee MA, Lerner DL, Tadros PN, et al. Dephosphorylation and intracellular redistribution of ventricular connexin43 during electrical uncoupling induced by ischemia. Circ Res. 2000;13:656–662
  9. Axelsen LN, Stahlhut M, Mohammed S, et al. Identification of ischemia-regulated phosphorylation sites in connexin43: a possible target for the antiarrhythmic peptide analogue rotigaptide (ZP123). J Mol Cardiol. 2006;40:790–798
  10. Boengler K, Schulz R, Heusch G. Connexin 43 signalling and cardioprotection. Heart. 2006;92:1724–1727
  11. Lin JH, Yang J, Liu S, et al. Connexin mediates gap junction-independent resistance to cellular injury. J Neurosci. 2003;23:430–441
  12. Sundset R, Ytrehus K, Zhang Y, Saffitz JE, Yamada KA. Repeated simulated ischemia and protection against gap junctional uncoupling. Cell Commun Adhes. 2007;14:239–249
  13. Sundset R, Cooper M, Mikalsen SO, Ytrehus K. Ischemic preconditioning protects against gap junctional uncoupling in cardiac myofibroblasts. Cell Commun Adhes. 2004;11:51–66
  14. Kjølbye AL, Haugan K, Hennan JK, Petersen JS. Pharmacological modulation of gap junction function with the novel compound rotigaptide: a promising new principle for prevention of arrhythmias. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2007;101:215–230
  15. Heist EK. Cell therapy to treat cardiac ischemia: angina-free and arrhythmia-free?. Heart Rhythm. 2007;4:266–267

PII: S1547-5271(09)00925-4

doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2009.08.021

Heart Rhythm
Volume 6, Issue 11 , Pages 1639-1640 , November 2009

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