Regulation of Connexins Expression Levels by MicroRNAs, an Update

Abstract

Control of cell-cell coordination and communication is regulated by several factors, including paracrine and autocrine release of biomolecules, and direct exchange of soluble factors between cells through gap junction channels. Additionally, hemichannels also participate in cell-cell coordination through the release of signaling molecules, such as ATP and glutamate. A family of transmembrane proteins named connexins forms both gap junction channels and hemichannels. Because of their importance in cell and tissue coordination, connexins are controlled both by post-translational and post-transcriptional modifications. In recent years, non-coding RNAs have garnered research interest due to their ability to exert post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. One of the most recent, well-documented control mechanisms of protein synthesis is found through the action of small, single-stranded RNA, called micro RNAs (miRNAs or miRs). Put simply, miRNAs are negative regulators of the expression of a myriad proteins involved in many physiological and pathological processes. This mini review will briefly summarize what is currently known about the action of miRNAs over Cxs expression/function in different organs under some relevant physiological and pathological conditions.

Quantitative Hybrid Cardiac [18F]FDG-PET-MRI Images for Assessment of Cardiac Repair by Preconditioned Cardiosphere-Derived Cells

“…We found a similar pattern in nontreated infarcted pig hearts 1 month after MI compared to the myocardium of control animals and a nonsignificant trend toward increased miR-1 levels in infarcted myocardium after treatment with CDCs or apoCDCs. The expressional levels of miR-1 and its known molecular target C X 43 20 are inversely correlated.…”

GJA4/Connexin 37 Mutations Correlate with Secondary Lymphedema Following Surgery in Breast Cancer Patients

“…It is important to note that the SNPs detected are in a region annotated as a 3’UTR, meaning that a direct effect on the protein sequence is unlikely (albeit we have not shown directly that the protein sequence is actually unaffected by the variation, and there remains a possibility that the annotation of this region may be erroneous). Likely, therefore, the mutation associated with secondary lymphedema affects the post-transcriptional fate of the mRNA through effects on stability, as several microRNAs have already been shown to target other connexin family members [ 22 ].…”

The Microvascular Gap Junction Channel: A Route to Deliver MicroRNAs for Neurological Disease Treatment

“…Conversely, the transfer of miR-124-3p between transfected and non-transfected glioma cells has anti-proliferative effects ( Suzhi et al, 2015 ), and the transfer of miR-145-5p to glioma cells has anti-tumor properties ( Thuringer et al, 2016a , b ). Additionally, some microRNAs regulate expression and/or function of Cx for several types of cancer ( Calderon and Retamal, 2016 ). These observations suggest that iPSC will have to be engineered to express and transfer not only selected microRNA with antitumor effects but also inhibitors of specific pro-tumorigenic microRNAs (anti-miRs) ( Gurwitz, 2016 ).…”