Study On The Regulation Mechanisms Of Gap Junction And Collagen Degradation In Corneal Fibroblasts

Corneal fibroblasts construct a three-dimensional scaffold by gap junctions. Each gap junction is comprised of a couple of hollow connexons localized at the points of contaction between adjacent cells. Each connexon is an oligomer of six protein subunits(connexin, Cx)which delineate an axial aqueous pore and directly link the cytoplasms of adjointing cells. Gap junctions allow the direct quick diffusion of small ions(1KD, or 1.5KD) and metabolical materials between adjacent cells. So gap junctions play an important role in cellular differentiation,growth,metabolism and embryonic development. Otherwise,abnormality of gap junctions may involved in pathogensis,such as some cancers. The function of gap junctions was monitored by fluorescent dye microinjection ( dye-coupling ), which revealed that there were active functional gap junctions between adjointing corneal fibroblasts. TNF-αdose-dependently inhibited the corneal fibroblasts gap junction. Cx-43 expression was determined by immunostaining using anti-Connexin-43...