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Related Concept Videos

Gap Junctions01:27

Gap Junctions

9.6K
The cytoplasm of adjacent animal cells can exchange small molecules, ions, and secondary messengers via the communication channels which form the gap junctions. These junctions comprise a few hundred to thousands of molecular channels, each made of two halves, called the connexon hemichannel. A connexon is a hexamer of six transmembrane connexin proteins, which assemble radially, thus forming a pore or channel in the center. One connexon hemichannel docks with a corresponding connexon on the...
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Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

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Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...
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Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder01:26

Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder

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Liver and gallbladder diseases are a significant health concern, with prominent conditions including cirrhosis, hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and gallstones. Jaundice is a common manifestation of liver and biliary disease.
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not...
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Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

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In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess...
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Gene Therapy00:59

Gene Therapy

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Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be...
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P-N junction01:11

P-N junction

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A p-n junction is formed when p-type and n-type semiconductor materials are joined together. At the interface of the p-n junction, holes from the p-side and electrons from the n-side begin to diffuse into the opposite sides due to the concentration gradient. This diffusion of carriers leads to a region around the junction where there are no free charge carriers, known as the depletion region. The charge density within the depletion region for the n-side and p-side can be described by the...
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Recording Gap Junction Current from Xenopus Oocytes
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Gap junctions in liver disease: Implications for pathogenesis and therapy.

Manuel Hernández-Guerra1, Anna Hadjihambi2, Rajiv Jalan3

  • 1Liver Unit, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain.

Journal of Hepatology
|January 2, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Gap junction dysfunction impacts liver health, contributing to diseases like fatty liver and cancer. Understanding these cellular channels is key for developing new liver disease therapies.

Keywords:
CirrhosisConnexinsGap junctionsHemichannelsIntercellular communicationLiver

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Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Gap junctions are crucial for normal liver function and cell-to-cell communication.
  • Dysfunctional gap junctions are linked to liver diseases including cancer, cirrhosis, and cholestasis.
  • Emerging evidence implicates gap junctions in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and acute liver injury.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of gap junction dysfunction in liver pathology.
  • To highlight the role of gap junctions in the pathogenesis of prevalent liver diseases.
  • To identify potential drug targets for modifying gap junction function in liver disease.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on gap junction function and dysfunction in the liver.
  • Analysis of the role of gap junctions in various hepatic pathological processes.
  • Identification and discussion of therapeutic strategies targeting gap junctions.

Main Results:

  • Gap junction dysfunction is implicated in a broad spectrum of liver conditions, beyond established roles in cancer and cirrhosis.
  • New research links these channels to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, acute liver injury, and portal hypertension.
  • Controversial findings necessitate a deeper understanding of gap junction complexity.

Conclusions:

  • Gap junctions play a critical, multifaceted role in liver homeostasis and disease pathogenesis.
  • Targeting gap junction function presents a promising avenue for novel liver disease therapeutics.
  • Further research is needed to resolve conflicting data and optimize therapeutic interventions.