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Updated: Aug 16, 2025
An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
Rat Hepatocytes Mitigate Cadmium Toxicity by Forming Annular Gap Junctions and Degrading Them via Endosome-Lysosome
Junzhao Yuan1,2,3, Xiaoqian Huang1,2, Yumeng Zhao1,2
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 Wenhui East Road, Yangzhou 225009, China.
Abstract:
Gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) plays a critical role in gap junction communication in rat hepatocytes. However, those located between hepatocytes are easily internalized following exposure to poisons. Herein, we investigated the potential of buffalo rat liver 3A (BRL 3A) cells to generate annular gap junctions (AGJs) proficient at alleviating cadmium (Cd) cytotoxic injury through degradation via an endosome-lysosome pathway. Our results showed that Cd-induced damage of liver microtubules promoted Cx43 internalization and increased Cx43 phosphorylation at Ser373 site. Furthermore, we established that Cd induced AGJs generation in BRL 3A cells, and AGJs were subsequently degraded through the endosome-lysosome pathway. Overall, our results suggested that Cx43 internalization and the generation of AGJs were cellular protective mechanisms to alleviate Cd toxicity in rat hepatocytes.
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