Molecular basis of cell to cell communication in the cardiovascular system : structure, function and distribution of gap junctions and their constituent channels under normal and abnormal conditions

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 95.0824-1

Key words (English)

Connexines; canaux membranaires; jonctions gap; communication cellulaire; système cardiovasculaire; cellules endothéliales

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: BMH4-CT96-1427

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 4.2 Agriculture and agroindustry

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Dr. H.J. Jongsma, Utrecht, (NL), Dr. R. Weingart, Bern, (CH), Dr. K. Willecke, Bonn, (D), Dr. L. Bario, Madrid (E), Dr. 3. Délèze, Poitiers (F), Dr. D. Gros, Marseille (F)

Abstract (English)

The working hypothesis underlying our project is that proper expression of connexins, the proteins of the connexin family that form membrane channels for intercellular exchanges of cytoplasmic ions and molecules, is required for proper fuinctioning of both the endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the vascular wall. The experimental approaches pursued during the first two years of this grant have provided support to this hypothesis, by showing that connexins play a significant role in the proper physiological function of several, highly differentiated cell types and that alterations of this protein and/or of the cell-to-cell communications it permits are associated with a variety of common human diseases.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 95.0824-1