Pannexin1 channels in the liver: an open enemy

Raf Van Campenhout; Anne Caufriez; Andrés Tabernilla; Amy Maerten; Sybren De Boever; Julen Sanz-Serrano; Prashant Kadam; Mathieu Vinken

doi:10.3389/fcell.2023.1220405

Pannexin1 channels in the liver: an open enemy

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2023 Jul 10:11:1220405. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1220405. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Raf Van Campenhout¹, Anne Caufriez¹, Andrés Tabernilla¹, Amy Maerten¹, Sybren De Boever¹, Julen Sanz-Serrano¹, Prashant Kadam¹, Mathieu Vinken¹

Affiliation

¹ Entity of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

Abstract

Pannexin1 proteins form communication channels at the cell plasma membrane surface, which allow the transfer of small molecules and ions between the intracellular compartment and extracellular environment. In this way, pannexin1 channels play an important role in various cellular processes and diseases. Indeed, a plethora of human pathologies is associated with the activation of pannexin1 channels. The present paper reviews and summarizes the structure, life cycle, regulation and (patho)physiological roles of pannexin1 channels, with a particular focus on the relevance of pannexin1 channels in liver diseases.

Keywords: cell death; inflammation; liver disease; pannexin1; pathology; physiology.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was financially supported by the European Future and Emerging Technologies program (grant 858014 “PANACHE”), the Fund for Scientific Research Research-Flanders, the University Hospital of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel-Belgium (“Willy Gepts Fonds” UZ-VUB) and the Methusalem program of the Flemish government-Belgium.