连接蛋白43在骨关节炎发病机制中的研究进展

骨关节炎(osteoarthritis,OA)是常见的关节疾病,也是导致残疾的主要原因之一,给患者及家庭带来巨大的经济生活负担。虽然OA的发病机制至今尚未完全明确,但关节软骨代谢平衡的破坏被认为与骨关节炎的发生息息相关。研究发现连接蛋白43(connexin43)在维持关节软骨代谢平衡的稳态中发挥着至关重要的作用,它所参与形成的半通道(hemichannels)和缝隙连接(gap junctions)在细胞与细胞外基质,以及细胞之间建立起直接的物质信号交换通道。同时,连接蛋白43的高表达和(或)分布的变化都将影响软骨细胞结构和功能的完整性。因此,连接蛋白43被认为与骨关节炎的发生有着密切关系。本文就连接蛋白43与骨关节炎发病机制的研究进展做一综述。

Research progression of connexin43 in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA)is the most common of all arthropathies and a leading cause of disability with a large socioeco-nomic cost.However,the etiology and pathogenesis of OA is still not completely clear.Connexin43(Cx43)plays a crucial role in cell-cell communication and maintaining the balance of metabolism homeostasis in articular cartilage.Connexin43 formation gap junctions and hemichannels in articular cartilage that established between adjacent cells as well as chondrocytes and extracellular matrix direct material exchange channel.The overexpression and/or loss of localization of these proteins would affect the structural and functional in-tegrity of chondrocytes and has a close relationship with the occurrence of osteoarthritis.In this paper we review the studies revealing the correlation between connexin43 and osteoarthritis.