Estradiol receptors regulate differential connexin 43 expression in F98 and C6 glioma cell lines

Abstract

An exclusive zone migration assay was used. Functional coupling of cells via gap junctions was examined using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Results E2 reducedCx43 expression inC6 cells, but increasedCx43 expression in F98 cultures. These effects were mediated via ERs. Moreover, E2 promoted C6 cell migration, but it did not affect F98 cellmigration. The expression level of ERα was found to be high in C6, but low in F98 cells. ERβ was exclusively expressed in C6 cells. In addition, E2 treatment induced a significant decrease of ERβ in C6 cultures, while it decreased ERα expression in F98 glioma cells. Discussion These findings show that E2 differentially modulates Cx43 expression in F98 and C6 glioma cells, likely due to the differential expression of ERs in each of these cell lines. Our findings point to themolecular mechanisms that might contribute to the gender-specific differences in themalignancy of glioma and could have implications for therapeutic strategies against glioma.