Deficient Cx43 phosphorylation at serine 282 mediates ischemia/reperfusion myocardial injury through activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase

Abstract

Background Connexin43 (Cx43) dephosphorylation contributes profoundly to arrhythmias and infarction in ischemia/reperfusion (IR) heart, however, its causative role and underlying mechanism in cardiomyocyte damage are unknown. We aim to identify Cx43 specific phosphorylation site(s) that causes cardiomyocyte apoptosis and contributes to IR-induced myocardium injury.