Int. J. Cancer: 51,522-529 (1992) 0 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Publication of the International Union Against Cancer Publication de I’Union Internationale Contre le Cancer
EXPRESSION OF Cx26, Cx32 AND Cx43 GAP JUNCTION PROTEINS IN NORMAL AND NEOPLASTIC HUMAN TISSUES Klaus K. WILGENBUS’%4, Charles J. KIRK PAT RICK^, Ruth KNUECHEL’, Klaus WILLECKE3 and Otto TRAUB3 ‘Departmentof Pathology, Rheinisch Westfalisch Technische Hochschule, Aachen; 2Departmentof Pathology, Universityof Regensburg; and 31nstitutefor Molecular Genetics, Universityof Bonn, Germany. This report concerns the expression of the gap-junction proteins Connexin (Cx)26,32 and 43 in different malignant and non-malignant human tissues. Affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies against Cx26,32 and 43 were usedfor immunohistochemical as well as immunoblot analysis. Cx32, the major gap-junction protein in rat and mouse liver, was detected in human liver and kidney. By contrast, Cx43 was expressed in epithelial and mesenchymal tissues and Cx26 was detected in different epithelia. Whereas all of the benign tumors studied, and some malignant ones, showed stable expression of gap-junction proteins, breast cancer, renal-cell cancer and sarcomas showed a significant decrease in gap-junction proteins as opposed to normal tissue. Cx43, not detected in human normal liver, was found in human hepatocellular carcinoma and Cx26, not detected in human adult skin, was observed in tissue samples of basal-cell carcinoma. In immunoblot analysis, Cx32 antibodies recognized a 27-kDa protein in human liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. A 43-kDa polypeptide was detected in human kidney, renal-cell carcinoma, normal breast, connective tissue of invasive-duct carcinoma of the breast and hepatocellular carcinoma.
o 1992 Wiley-Liss,Inc. Gap-junction-mediated intercellular communication has been postulated to be an important mechanism by which cells exchange ions and small molecules (
Publication of the International Union Against Cancer Publication de I’Union Internationale Contre le Cancer
EXPRESSION OF Cx26, Cx32 AND Cx43 GAP JUNCTION PROTEINS IN NORMAL AND NEOPLASTIC HUMAN TISSUES Klaus K. WILGENBUS’%4, Charles J. KIRK PAT RICK^, Ruth KNUECHEL’, Klaus WILLECKE3 and Otto TRAUB3 ‘Departmentof Pathology, Rheinisch Westfalisch Technische Hochschule, Aachen; 2Departmentof Pathology, Universityof Regensburg; and 31nstitutefor Molecular Genetics, Universityof Bonn, Germany. This report concerns the expression of the gap-junction proteins Connexin (Cx)26,32 and 43 in different malignant and non-malignant human tissues. Affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies against Cx26,32 and 43 were usedfor immunohistochemical as well as immunoblot analysis. Cx32, the major gap-junction protein in rat and mouse liver, was detected in human liver and kidney. By contrast, Cx43 was expressed in epithelial and mesenchymal tissues and Cx26 was detected in different epithelia. Whereas all of the benign tumors studied, and some malignant ones, showed stable expression of gap-junction proteins, breast cancer, renal-cell cancer and sarcomas showed a significant decrease in gap-junction proteins as opposed to normal tissue. Cx43, not detected in human normal liver, was found in human hepatocellular carcinoma and Cx26, not detected in human adult skin, was observed in tissue samples of basal-cell carcinoma. In immunoblot analysis, Cx32 antibodies recognized a 27-kDa protein in human liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. A 43-kDa polypeptide was detected in human kidney, renal-cell carcinoma, normal breast, connective tissue of invasive-duct carcinoma of the breast and hepatocellular carcinoma.
o 1992 Wiley-Liss,Inc. Gap-junction-mediated intercellular communication has been postulated to be an important mechanism by which cells exchange ions and small molecules (
