Abstract
Intercellular communication plays a pivotal role in various physiological functions. This is mainly done through gap junctions and trans-membrane channels. The structural proteins forming these channels are different in vertebrates and invertebrates namely connexins and innexins respectively. Recently, a new class of proteins playing a crucial role in intercellular communication was discovered and named pannexins. They are found to have similar homology to innexins. Earlier they were also thought to form gap junctions and hemi channels on oppositional cell surfaces like connexins but later they were found to have different structure, location and function than connexins. Their main role is in the initiation and propagation of cellular calcium waves and ATP release. They are also considered an integral part of the greater purinergic and adrenergic receptor complexes. They are implicated in wide variety of biochemical and pathophysiological functions ranging from apoptosis, inflammation, ischemia, seizures and immune response; to paracrine signaling, vasodymanics, tumor genesis, cellular differentiation and development. Due to their ubiquitous distribution and involvement in myriad cellular functions, they are considered as potential therapeutic targets for diseases like hypertension, epilepsy and immune disorders.
Keywords: Calcium, cellular communication, purine, hypertension, channels.
Current Drug Targets
Title:Pannexin Channels: The Emerging Therapeutic Targets
Volume: 15 Issue: 3
Author(s): Misbahuddin Mohammad and Hamed Said Habib
Affiliation:
Keywords: Calcium, cellular communication, purine, hypertension, channels.
Abstract: Intercellular communication plays a pivotal role in various physiological functions. This is mainly done through gap junctions and trans-membrane channels. The structural proteins forming these channels are different in vertebrates and invertebrates namely connexins and innexins respectively. Recently, a new class of proteins playing a crucial role in intercellular communication was discovered and named pannexins. They are found to have similar homology to innexins. Earlier they were also thought to form gap junctions and hemi channels on oppositional cell surfaces like connexins but later they were found to have different structure, location and function than connexins. Their main role is in the initiation and propagation of cellular calcium waves and ATP release. They are also considered an integral part of the greater purinergic and adrenergic receptor complexes. They are implicated in wide variety of biochemical and pathophysiological functions ranging from apoptosis, inflammation, ischemia, seizures and immune response; to paracrine signaling, vasodymanics, tumor genesis, cellular differentiation and development. Due to their ubiquitous distribution and involvement in myriad cellular functions, they are considered as potential therapeutic targets for diseases like hypertension, epilepsy and immune disorders.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Mohammad Misbahuddin and Habib Said Hamed, Pannexin Channels: The Emerging Therapeutic Targets, Current Drug Targets 2014; 15 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13894501113146660217
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13894501113146660217 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
Related Books

- Author Guidelines
- Bentham Author Support Services (BASS)
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Safety Profile of Oral Iron Chelator Deferiprone in Chinese Children with Transfusion-Dependent Thalassaemia
Current Drug Safety Salvage Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Combination with Bevacizumab in Patients with Recurrent High Grade Glioma: A Mono-institutional Experience
Clinical Cancer Drugs Natural Agents Modulating ACE-2: A Review of Compounds with Potential against SARS-CoV-2 Infections
Current Pharmaceutical Design Factors Influencing Outcome of Patients Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Failure
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Pre-eclampsia Versus Cardiovascular Disease Versus CRP
Current Hypertension Reviews Polyphenols-Rich Natural Products for Treatment of Diabetes
Current Medicinal Chemistry “Tripping out” with the TRP Superfamily and TRPV1 for Novel Neuroprotection
Current Neurovascular Research A Systematic Review of Overweight, Obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes Among Asian American Subgroups
Current Diabetes Reviews Current Therapeutic Paradigms in Glioblastoma
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Targeted Therapy for Advanced Renal Cell Cancer: Cytokines and Beyond
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Vicious Circle of Leptin and Obesity
Current Nutrition & Food Science Patent Selections
Recent Patents on DNA & Gene Sequences Oxidative Stress in Essential Hypertension
Current Pharmaceutical Design Prevention of Intracerebral Haemorrhage
Current Drug Targets Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Current Cardiology Reviews Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Atrial Arrhythmogenesis
Current Cardiology Reviews Modelling the Neurovascular Unit and the Blood-Brain Barrier with the Unique Function of Pericytes
Current Neurovascular Research Animal Models for Studying Neointima Formation
Current Vascular Pharmacology Adherence to Treatment, Arterial Stiffness and Cognitive Function in Irbesartan- Treated Newly Diagnosed Hypertensive Patients
Current Vascular Pharmacology Neuroprotection and Sex Steroid Hormones: Evidence of Estradiol- Mediated Protection in Hypertensive Encephalopathy
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry