# Coordination of innate immune responses by connexins

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how connexins coordinate innate immune responses and their role in diseases like infections and cancer.

## Contribution

The paper highlights new insights into how connexins regulate immune cell functions and their potential as therapeutic targets.

## Key findings

- Connexins mediate signaling molecule transfer between cells and their environment.
- They regulate immune cell functions and coordinate innate immunity.
- Targeting connexins is emerging as a potential clinical strategy.

## Abstract

Innate immunity comprises intricate cellular and tissue responses critical for host defense and tissue homeostasis. Intercellular communication is central to these responses and significantly influences infection, inflammatory disorders, and cancer. Connexins form hemichannels, gap junctions, and connexosomes to mediate signaling molecule transfer, including nucleotide derivatives, ions, antigens, and mitochondria, which occur between adjacent cells or between cells and their microenvironments. By modulating intercellular communication, connexins regulate various immune cell functions and contribute significantly to the coordination of innate immunity. This review summarizes recent insights into connexin-mediated innate immune networks and their implications in pathological contexts such as viral infections, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. Additionally, we discuss targeting connexins as an emerging pharmacological strategy for clinical intervention.