The inhibitory mechanism of gap junctional intercellular communication induced by polyethylene and the restorative effects by surface modification with various proteins

Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is a function that plays an important role in maintaining cell and tissue homeostasis and in regulating cell growth, development, and differentiation. Change in this function of V79 fibroblasts cultured on polyethylene films modified with albumin or collagen was estimated using fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis. The GJIC function of V79 cells on nontreated polyethylene was strongly inhibited in comparison with those on a glass coverslip. When the cells were culture on collagen-immobilized polyethylene film, this function was recovered to about 70% of the cells cultured on the coverslip. However, albumin immobilization did not recover the function as much as collagen immobilization. Western blotting analysis and immunostaining of connexin 43, which is a major protein constituting gap junctional channel of these cells, revealed its abnormal expression and distribution in the cells on nontreated polyethylene, whereas its almost normal distribution was observed in the cells on collagen-immobilized polyethylene. This abnormal expression and distribution of connexin 43 induced by the surface of polyethylene may be ascribed to a strong inhibition of GJIC of V79 fibroblasts. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 57: 567–574, 2001