Gap junction protein connexin43 and tunneling nanotubes in human trabecular meshwork cells.

Intercellular communication via gap junctions and tunneling nanotubes (TNT) play pivotal roles for cell differentiation and proliferation and homeostasis. Intercellular communication has been found in human trabecular meshwork cells, which are key elements for allowing the direct passing aqueous humor and for maintaining the homeostasis of intraocular pressure. Here we showed the expression of gap junction protein connexin43 in human trabecular meshwork cells, and the presence of TNTs in these cells labeled with enhanced GFP generated using highly efficient lentiviral transduction. More importantly, the TNTs in human trabecular meshwork cells were significantly reduced after shRNA or CRISPR Cas9 mediated knockdown of Cx43 in these cells. The results indicated that gap junction protein connexin43 may play an important role in TNTs formation in human trabecular meshwork cells.