ArticleThe Journal of cell biology2020
Mechanosensitive collaboration between integrins and connexins allows nutrient and antioxidant transport into the lens.
Article in The Journal of cell biology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Mammalian Ocular Lens in Focus: Development, Anatomy, Physiology, Transparency, Biomechanics, and Age-related Challenges.Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE · 2026Review
- Lens Biomechanics and Mechanotransduction Signaling: Dual Pillars of Age-Related Cataract Pathogenesis.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2026Review
- Connexin Restrains EMT by Dual-Domain Mechanisms to Preserve Epithelial Identity.Research square · 2025Article
- Connexin-hemichannels-mediated ATP release causes lung injury following chlorine inhalation.American journal of physiology. Cell physiology · 2025Article
- Oxidative Stress and Cataract Formation: Evaluating the Efficacy of Antioxidant Therapies.Biomolecules · 2024Review
- Mechano-activated connexin hemichannels and glutathione transport protect lens fiber cells against oxidative insults.Redox biology · 2024Article
- Mechanosensory entities and functionality of endothelial cells.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2024Review
- Gap Junctions or Hemichannel-Dependent and Independent Roles of Connexins in Fibrosis, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transitions, and Wound Healing.Biomolecules · 2023Review
- The Role of Gap Junctions Dysfunction in the Development of Cataracts: From Loss of Cell-to-Cell Transfer to Blurred Vision-Review.Bioelectricity · 2023Review
- HSP90β prevents aging-related cataract formation through regulation of the charged multivesicular body protein (CHMP4B) and p53.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2023Article
- Protein kinase A activation alleviates cataract formation via increased gap junction intercellular communication.iScience · 2023Article
- Patch clamp studies on TRPV4-dependent hemichannel activation in lens epithelium.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2023Article
- The Bioactive Phenolic Agents Diaryl Ether CVB2-61 and Diarylheptanoid CVB4-57 as Connexin Hemichannel Blockers.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Mechanotransduction in Skin Inflammation.Cells · 2022Review
- Impaired GSH biosynthesis disrupts eye development, lens morphogenesis and PAX6 function.The ocular surface · 2021Article
- Connexin Gap Junctions and Hemichannels in Modulating Lens Redox Homeostasis and Oxidative Stress in Cataractogenesis.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Article
- Above the Matrix: Functional Roles for Apically Localized Integrins.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2021Review
- Physiological Mechanisms Regulating Lens Transport.Frontiers in physiology · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
The delivery of glucose and antioxidants is vital to maintain homeostasis and lens transparency. Here, we report a new mechanism whereby mechanically activated connexin (Cx) hemichannels serve as a transport portal for delivering glucose and glutathione (GSH). Integrin α6β1 in outer cortical lens fiber activated by fluid flow shear stress (FFSS) induced opening of hemichannels. Inhibition of α6 activation prevented hemichannel opening as well as glucose and GSH uptake. The activation of integrin β1, a heterodimeric partner of α6 in the absence of FFSS, increased Cx50 hemichannel opening. Hemichannel activation by FFSS depended on the interaction of integrin α6 and Cx50 C-terminal domain. Moreover, hemichannels in nuclear fiber were unresponsive owing to Cx50 truncation. Taken together, these results show that mechanically activated α6β1 integrin in outer cortical lens fibers leads to opening of hemichannels, which transport glucose and GSH into cortical lens fibers. This study unveils a new transport mechanism that maintains metabolic and antioxidative function of the lens.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.