Intercellular communication between bone marrow stromal cells and CD34+ haematopoietic progenitor cells is mediated by connexin 43‐type gap junctions (original) (raw)

British Journal of Haematology, 2008

Abstract

The existence of functional gap junctions between haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and stromal cells of the haematopoietic microenvironment in the human system is a controversial issue. Primary CD34+ HPCs isolated from leukapheresis products were co‐incubated with the human fibroblastoid bone marrow stromal cell line L87/4 in short‐term liquid culture. Using the highly sensitive double whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique, we found that the majority (91%) of CD34+ HPCs are electrically coupled to L87/4 cells. Importantly, efficient coupling was observed within 1 h of the attachment of CD34+ HPCs to plastic adherent L87/4 cells. By comparison, homologous cell pairs formed by L87/4 cells exhibited a significantly higher electric coupling. Analysis of single‐channel conductances revealed an electric profile characteristic of connexin 43 (Cx43)‐type gap junctions for both homologous and heterologous cell pairs. The Cx phenotype was confirmed using Cx43‐specific monoclonal antibodies i...

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