Fig. 4: Labile Zn2+ upregulates CX43 by modulation of the PTEN/AKT pathway. | Nature Communications

Fig. 4: Labile Zn2+ upregulates CX43 by modulation of the PTEN/AKT pathway.

From: ZIP1+ fibroblasts protect lung cancer against chemotherapy via connexin-43 mediated intercellular Zn2+ transfer

Fig. 4

a Expression of CX43, pAKT and AKT in mCAFs stimulated with different concentrations of ZnCl2 for 20 min in DMEM + 10%FBS + 5 μM TPEN. β-actin was used as control. The samples derived from the same experiment and blots were processed in parallel. A representative result from three independent experiments is shown. b Expression of PTEN in mCAFs stimulated with different concentrations of ZnCl2 for 5 min in DMEM + 10%FBS + 5 μM TPEN. A representative result from three independent experiments is shown. c Expression of CX43 in mCAFs stimulated with ZnCl2 ± AKT inhibitor (50 μM LY294002) for 20 min. A representative result from three independent experiments is shown. d Expression of pAKT and PTEN in Zip1+/+ and Zip1−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). β-actin was used as a control. The samples derived from the same experiment and blots were processed in parallel. A representative result from three independent experiments is shown. e Expression of CX43 in LLC-GFP-luc cells co-cultured with mCAFs. Cells were cultured in DMEM + 10%FBS for 24 h. mCAFs were pre-treated with TPEN (50 μM). HEPT; 2 mM. β-actin was used as control. The samples derived from the same experiment and blots were processed in parallel. A representative result from four independent experiments is shown. f Expression of CX43 in LLC-GFP-luc cells stimulated with ZnCl2 (30 μM) for different times under indicated conditions. β-actin was used as control. The samples derived from the same experiment and blots were processed in parallel. A representative result from three independent experiments is shown. g Expression of CX43 on the cell surface of LLC-GFP-luc tumour cells treated with different concentrations of ZnCl2 for 4 h in DMEM + 10%FBS + 5 μM TPEN. Data are presented as mean ± SEM, n = 3 for each group. Two-tailed t-test. h Expression of CX43 on the cell surface of Zip1+/+ and Zip1−/− MEFs and LLC-GFP-luc cells co-cultured with MEFs (for 1 h in DMEM + 10%FBS + 5 μM TPEN), determined by FACS. LLC-GFP-luc without MEFs were used as a control (Ctl). Data are presented as mean ± SEM, n = 3 for each group. Two-tailed t-test. Source data are provided as a Source Data file (b, d–j). Source data are provided as a Source Data file (a–h).

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