Mind the gap! Gap junction channels and their importance in pathogenesis

"Cells live together, but die singly", this sentence wrote the German physiologist Theodor Engelmann in 1875 and although he had no particular knowledge of gap junction channels (their structure was discovered around 100 years later) he described their functions very well: gap junction cha...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Stefan Dhein
Other Authors: Aida Salameh, Katja Blanke
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media SA 2014
Series:Frontiers Research Topics
Subjects:
Online Access:
Collection: Directory of Open Access Books - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
LEADER 04099nma a2200505 u 4500
001 EB001984087
003 EBX01000000000000001146989
005 00000000000000.0
007 cr|||||||||||||||||||||
008 210512 ||| eng
020 |a 978-2-88919-238-0 
020 |a 9782889192380 
100 1 |a Stefan Dhein 
245 0 0 |a Mind the gap! Gap junction channels and their importance in pathogenesis  |h Elektronische Ressource 
260 |b Frontiers Media SA  |c 2014 
300 |a 1 electronic resource (252 p.) 
653 |a development 
653 |a Pharmacology 
653 |a Connexins 
653 |a gap junction 
653 |a human diseases 
653 |a Neurology and clinical neurophysiology / bicssc 
653 |a Growth 
653 |a hemichannels 
653 |a pannexins 
653 |a intercellular communication 
653 |a differentiation 
700 1 |a Aida Salameh 
700 1 |a Katja Blanke 
041 0 7 |a eng  |2 ISO 639-2 
989 |b DOAB  |a Directory of Open Access Books 
490 0 |a Frontiers Research Topics 
500 |a Creative Commons (cc), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 
028 5 0 |a 10.3389/978-2-88919-238-0 
856 4 2 |u https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/53528  |z DOAB: description of the publication 
856 4 0 |u http://journal.frontiersin.org/researchtopic/1132/mind-the-gap-gap-junction-channels-and-their-importance-in-pathogenesis  |7 0  |x Verlag  |3 Volltext 
082 0 |a 612 
082 0 |a 333 
082 0 |a 140 
082 0 |a 380 
082 0 |a 610 
082 0 |a 615 
520 |a "Cells live together, but die singly", this sentence wrote the German physiologist Theodor Engelmann in 1875 and although he had no particular knowledge of gap junction channels (their structure was discovered around 100 years later) he described their functions very well: gap junction channels are essential for intercellular communication and crucial for the development of tissue and organs. But besides providing an opportunity for cells to communicate gap junction channels might also prevent intercellular communication by channel closure thereby preserving the surrounding healthy tissue in case of cellular necrosis. According to today's understanding gap junction channels play an important role during embryonic development, during growth, wound healing and cell differentiation and are also involved in the process of learning.  
520 |a In the past decades most intensive research was done not only to unravel the physiological role of gap junction channels but also to extend our knowledge of the contribution of these channels in pathogenesis. A new frontier emerges in the field "pharmacology of gap junctions" with the aim to control growth, differentiation, or electrical coupling via targeting gap junction channels pharmacologically. As we know today disturbances in gap junction synthesis, assembly and cellular distribution may account for various organic disorders from most different medical fields, such as the Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy, epilepsy, Chagas-disease, Naxos-syndrome, congenital cardiac malformations, arrhythmias, cancer and as a very common disease in industrial countries atherosclerosis.  
520 |a Point mutations in gap junction channels have been found to cause hereditary diseases like the congenital deafness or the Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy but the exact molecular mechanisms of gap junction malfunction from most of the mentioned illnesses are not fully understood. Moreover, in the last few years research has expanded on the role and function of connexin hemichannels and on a relatively new field the pannexins. The purpose of this volume is to give a comprehensive overview of the involvement of gap junction channels, hemichannels and pannexins on pathogenesis of inborn and acquired diseases and on emerging pharmacological strategies to target these channels. We welcome our colleagues to contribute their findings on the influence of gap junctions on pathogenesis and to unravel the secrets of intercellular communication. Take the lid off!