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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling
Published on: August 3, 2018
Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) alter connexin 43
L E Wyatt1, C Y Chung, B Carlsen
1Plastic Surgery Section, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA. lance_wyatt@hotmail.com
Background:
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-betas) are important regulators of bone repair and regeneration. BMP-2 and TGF-beta1 have been shown to inhibit gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in MC3T3-E1 cells. Connexin 43 (Cx43) has been shown to mediate GJIC in osteoblasts and it is the predominant gap junctional protein expressed in these murine osteoblast-like cells. We examined the expression, phosphorylation, and subcellular localization of Cx43 after treatment with BMP-2 or TGF-beta1 to investigate a possible mechanism for the inhibition of GJIC.
Results:
Northern blot analysis revealed no detectable change in the expression of Cx43 mRNA. Western blot analysis demonstrated no significant change in the expression of total Cx43 protein. However, significantly higher ratios of unphosphorylated vs. phosphorylated forms of Cx43 were detected after BMP-2 or TGF-beta1 treatment. Immunofluorescence and cell protein fractionation revealed no detectable change in the localization of Cx43 between the cytosol and plasma membrane.
Conclusions:
BMP-2 and TGF-beta1 do not alter expression of Cx43 at the mRNA or protein level. BMP-2 and TGF-beta1 may inhibit GJIC by decreasing the phosphorylated form of Cx43 in MC3T3-E1 cells.
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