The Functional Implications of Endothelial Gap Junctions and Cellular Mechanics in Vascular Angiogenesis

Abstract

Angiogenesis—the sprouting and growth of new blood vessels from the existing vasculature—is an important contributor to tumor development, since it facilitates the supply of oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells. Endothelial cells are critically affected during the angiogenic process as their proliferation, motility, and morphology are modulated by pro-angiogenic and environmental factors associated with tumor tissues and cancer cells. Recent in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed that the gap junctions of endothelial cells also participate in the promotion of angiogenesis. Pro-angiogenic factors modulate gap junction function and connexin expression in endothelial cells, whereas endothelial connexins are involved in angiogenic tube formation and in the cell migration of endothelial cells. Several mechanisms, including gap junction function-dependent or -independent pathways, have been proposed. In particular, connexins might have the potential to regulate cell mechanics such as cell morphology, cell migration, and cellular stiffness that are dynamically changed during the angiogenic processes. Here, we review the implication for endothelial gap junctions and cellular mechanics in vascular angiogenesis.

Paradoxical carbon dioxide embolism during laparoscopic surgery without intracardiac right-to-left shunt: two case reports and a brief review of the literature

“…The vasculature within tumors is structurally abnormal; it is not organized in the conventional hierarchical arrangement and is more permeable than the normal vasculature. 12 , 13 These features contribute to leaky, tortuous, and dilated blood vessels. Therefore, we speculate that tumor resection and surgeries involving a complex vascular plexus, such as hepatectomy, cholecystectomy, and nephrectomy, may also be risk factors for gas embolism during laparoscopic surgery.…”

Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Junctions: Molecular Regulation in Physiology and Diseases

“…Connexons can function as hemichannels in the plasma membrane for cytosolextracellular diffusion or dock together across adjacent cells to form complete intercellular gap junctions that mediate direct cell-cell communication (Goodenough and Paul, 2009). The role of connexin-mediated homocellular or heterocellular coupling of BECs and vascular smooth muscle cells has been well studied in blood vessels (Figueroa and Duling, 2009;Okamoto and Suzuki, 2017;Okamoto et al, 2019). In contrast, much less is known about connexins in lymphatic vessels; their in vivo expression pattern and function in LECs and lymphatic smooth muscle cells have only begun to be unveiled in recent years.…”

Antagonistic Functions of Connexin 43 during the Development of Primary or Secondary Bone Tumors

“…For example, connexin43 is required for astrocyte cell migration under pro-inflammatory conditions [ 108 ]. Connexins have also been proven to play a crucial role in cell migration in other cell types such as neurons [ 109 , 110 ], keratinocytes [ 111 ], endothelial cells [ 112 ] and bone marrow stromal cells [ 113 ].…”