Epithelial cells of nasal mucosa express functional gap junctions of connexin 43

Recent studies have suggested that inositol triphosphate is transmitted through the gap junction of adjacent epithelial cells and communicates the intracellular calcium wave that controls the beating of cilia. Therefore, gap junction-mediated intercellular communication may modulate the metachronal ciliary beating of respiratory mucosa.

The expression and function of gap junctions were evaluated in nasal mucosa using immunofluorescent staining, Western blotting and Lucifer Yellow dye coupling in both whole nasal mucosa and cultured nasal epithelial cells.

Among connexins (Cxs) 26, 32 and 43, only Cx43 was found in the nasal mucosa, in both the epithelial cells and submucosa tissue. Using Western blotting, Cx43 protein was found in protein extracts of both whole mucosa and cultured epithelial cells. The Cx43 protein content increased twofold between the 3rd and 6th days of culture. Lucifer Yellow dye, microinjected into single cultured epithelial cells, had spread to the adjacent cells.

Cx43 is present in nasal mucosa. The expression of Cx43 on epithelial cells increases after culture. The dye-coupling study in epithelial cells indicated that the signal may be transmitted to neighboring cells via a gap junction composed of Cx43. Thus, Cx43 may be involved in the regulation of metachronal ciliary beating in ciliated epithelial cells and growth or differentiation in nasal tissue.