Dicumarol is a potent reversible inhibitor of gap junctional intercellular communication

Dicumarol [3,3'-methylene-bis(4-hydroxycoumarin)] is a potent inhibitor of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1. Exposure of rat liver epithelial cells or of human skin fibroblasts to dicumarol resulted in a rapid and complete inhibition of connexin-43-dependent gap junctional intercellular communication (GJC). GJC was restored within 60min following removal of dicumarol. The concentration of dicumarol required for half maximal inhibition of GJC was 3muM, making dicumarol about 10-fold more effective in blocking GJC than 1-octanol and flufenamic acid, known inhibitors of GJC. Warfarin, a related coumarin derivative, also attenuated GJC, yet very high concentrations of 5-10mM were required. Dicumarol-induced downregulation of GJC was found not to be due to an interference with pathways enhancing the phosphorylation of connexin-43, such as epidermal growth factor receptor and extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathways. Rather, inhibition of GJC by dicumarol was paralleled by a reversible loss of a phosphorylated form ("P2") of connexin-43.