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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 5, 2014
Correlation between connexin and traumatic brain injury in patients
Bonian Chen1, Liwei Sun1, Xiaozhe Wu1
1Tianjin Huanhu Hospital Tianjin China.
Background:
Identification of molecular alterations of damaged tissue in patients with neurological disorders can provide novel insight and potential therapeutic target for treatment of the diseases. It has been suggested by animal studies that connexins (CXs), a family of gap junction proteins, could contribute to neuronal cell death and associate with neurological deficits during trauma-induced damage. Nevertheless, whether specific CXs are involved in traumatic brain injury (TBI) has remained unexplored in human patients.
Methods:
In a clinical setting, we performed a correlation study of 131 TBI patients who received brain surgery. CXs (including CX40, CX43, and CX45) were examined in the harvested brain tissues for studying the relationships with the Glasgow Coma Scale scores of the patients.
Results:
Specifically, the protein levels of CX43 (negatively) and CX40 (positively) are associated with the extent of disease severity. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation status of CX43 was strongly associated with the severe TBI patients who contain relatively high kinase activities of PKC (protein kinase C) and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), two possible activators for CX43 phosphorylation.
Conclusion:
These data highlight that a cluster of connexin family gap junction proteins not previously studied in humans is significantly correlated with the disease progression of TBI.
Insights
Connexins (CXs) are linked to traumatic brain injury (TBI) severity in patients. CX43 and CX40 levels correlate with TBI progression, offering potential therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Trauma Research
Background:
- Molecular alterations in damaged brain tissue offer therapeutic targets for neurological disorders.
- Animal studies suggest connexins (CXs) contribute to neuronal death and neurological deficits after trauma.
- The role of specific CXs in human traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of specific connexins (CXs) in human traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- To explore the correlation between connexin expression and TBI severity in patients.
Main Methods:
- A correlation study was conducted on 131 TBI patients undergoing brain surgery.
- Examined protein levels of CX40, CX43, and CX45 in harvested brain tissues.
- Correlated connexin levels with Glasgow Coma Scale scores.
Main Results:
- CX43 protein levels negatively correlated with TBI severity.
- CX40 protein levels positively correlated with TBI severity.
- Phosphorylated CX43 was associated with severe TBI and high kinase activity (PKC, MAPK).
Conclusions:
- Connexin family gap junction proteins are significantly correlated with TBI progression in humans.
- These findings highlight CXs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for TBI.
- This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of TBI in human patients.
