Modulation of osteoblast gap junction connectivity by serum, TNFα, and TRAIL

We studied the effects of serum growth factors and of TNF family proteins on osteoblast gap junction connectivity. Serum starvation of human MG63 osteosarcoma cells or nontransformed osteoblasts decreased connexin43 protein. TNFα or TRAIL reduced connexin43 further. Serum starvation redistributed gap junctions but did not reduce intercellular diffusion. In contrast, TNFα or TRAIL reduced gap junctions on cell processes and decreased intercellular diffusion. Effects of TNFs on connexin43 were mediated by lysosomal proteolysis. Activating analogs of cAMP increased connexin43 protein, but did not block effects of serum starvation, TNFα, or TRAIL on connexin43 protein. Connexin43 and connectivity recovered overnight if stimuli were withdrawn. Surprisingly, connexin43 mRNA increased in serum starvation and with TNFα or TRAIL. Since β-catenin is a binding partner of connexin43, when connexin43 is degraded, β-catenin activation may contribute to a reflexive increase in connexin43 transcription. We conclude that osteoblast connectivity is regulated by a multifactorial system that maintains intercellular connections. Serum starvation, TNFα and TRAIL augmented connexin43 degradation and connexin43 transcription. Cell-cell communication was maintained in serum starvation, which may model response to acute injury, but was sensitive to TNFs. These inflammatory agents mediated selective, reversible removal of connexin43 from cell processes.