β-glycyrrhetinic acid alters expression and phosphorylation of the gap junction protein connexin-43 in enterocyte-like cells

Abstract

• Connexin protein monomers complex to form gap junction intercellular channels between various communicating cell types Connexin-43 is the major connexin expressed in intestinal epithelial cells in culture (R.B. & M.K., unpublished)

β-glycyrrhetinic acid is a chemical inhibitor of gap junction communication in these and other cell types, with unknown mode of action

Blocking gap junctions in intestinal epithelial cells also blocks the epithelial healing process (R.B. & M.K., unpublished)