Low-grade inflammation causes gap junction-coupled cell dysfunction throughout the body, which can lead to the spread of systemic inflammation

Abstract

Background and aims: Gap junction-coupled cells form networks in different organs in the body. These networks can be affected by inflammatory stimuli and become dysregulated. Cell signaling is also changed through connexin-linked gap junctions. This alteration affects the surrounding cells and extracellular matrix in organs. These changes can cause the spread of inflammatory substances, thus affecting other network-linked cells in other organs in the body, which can give rise to systemic inflammation, which in turn can lead to pain that can turn into chronic.Methods: This is a review based on literature search and our own research data of inflammatory stimuli that can affect different organs and particularly gap-junction-coupled cells throughout the body.Conclusions: A remaining question is which cell type or tissue is first affected by inflammatory stimuli. Can endotoxin exposure through the air, water and body start the process and are mast cells the first target cells that have the capacity to alter the physiological status of gap junction-coupled cells, thereby causing breakdown of different barrier systems?

Keywords

low-grade inflammation; systemic inflammation; gap junction-coupled cell networks; Ca2+ signaling; endotoxins; Toll-like receptors

Published in

Scandinavian Journal of Pain
2019, volume: 19, number: 4, pages: 639-649
Publisher: WALTER DE GRUYTER GMBH

SLU Authors

• Skiöldebrand, Eva

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Gothenburg

UKÄ Subject classification

Immunology in the medical area

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjpain-2019-0061

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/105502