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pubmed:abstractText |
Connexin hemichannels have long been considered as mere structural precursors for gap junctions. In the last decade, it has become clear that they also act as individual channels, connecting the intracellular compartment and the extracellular environment. Impairement of connexin hemichannel functionality may result in disturbance of homeostasis, as exemplified in the current paper for the intestine and the liver. Research in this field still has a number of shortcomings, of which some are also discussed here.
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pubmed:affiliation |
Mathieu Vinken, Tamara Vanhaecke, Vera Rogiers, Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, B-1090, Belgium.
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