Connexins in lymphatic vessel physiology and disease

Meens, Merlijn; Sabine, Amélie; Petrova, Tatiana V; Kwak, Brenda

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2014.01.011

Scientific article

Review

English

Connexins in lymphatic vessel physiology and disease

Contributors

Meens, Merlijn; Sabine, Amélie; Petrova, Tatiana V; Kwak, Brenda

Published in

FEBS letters, vol. 588, no. 8, p. 1271-1277

Publication date

2014

Abstract

Connexins are transmembrane proteins that form gap junction- and hemi-channels. Once inserted into the membrane, hemi-channels (connexons) allow for diffusion of ions and small molecules (<1 kDa) between the extracellular space and the cytosol. Gap junction channels allow diffusion of similar molecules between the cytoplasms of adjacent cells. The expression and function of connexins in blood vessels has been intensely studied in the last few decades. In contrast, only a few studies paid attention to lymphatic vessels; convincing in vivo data with respect to expression patterns of lymphatic connexins and their functional roles have only recently begun to emerge. Interestingly, mutations in connexin genes have been linked to diseases of lymphatic vasculature, most notably primary and secondary lymphedema. This review summarizes the available data regarding lymphatic connexins. More specifically it addresses (i) early studies aimed at presence of gap junction-like structures in lymphatic vessels, (ii) more recent studies focusing on lymphatic connexins using genetically engineered mice, and (iii) results of clinical studies that have reported lymphedema-linked mutations in connexin genes.

Keywords

Animals
Connexins/genetics/metabolism
Gap Junctions/genetics/metabolism/pathology
Humans
Lymphatic Vessels/metabolism/pathology
Lymphedema/genetics/metabolism/pathology
Mutation

UNIGE affiliation entities

UNIGE research groups

Connexines et pathologies cardiovasculaires (665)

Citation (ISO format)

MEENS, Merlijn et al. Connexins in lymphatic vessel physiology and disease. In: FEBS letters, 2014, vol. 588, n° 8, p. 1271–1277. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.01.011

Article (Published version)

Identifiers

PID : unige:38570
DOI : 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.01.011
PMID : 24457200

Journal ISSN

0014-5793

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22/07/2026 10:54:26

Connexins in lymphatic vessel physiology and disease

Contributors

Published in

Publication date

Abstract

Keywords

UNIGE affiliation entities

UNIGE research groups

Citation (ISO format)

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Journal ISSN

Technical informations

Creation

First validation

Update

Status update

Last indexation