Limiting burn extension by transient inhibition of Connexin43 expression at the site of injury

Extension of a burn wound over the first 24h following injury is recognised clinically, and leads to diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. In the central nervous system, a similar spread of damage, beyond the initial injury, can occur via the spread of death signals from injured cells to their healthy neighbours via Connexin43 (Cx43) gap junction channels. In the skin, Cx43 is expressed in the basal epidermis and in fibroblasts and dermal...