Effect of Pannexin 1 Knockout on Contraction of Mouse Mesenteric Arteries in Obstructive Cholestasis

In liver disease, pannexin 1 (Panx1) expression in hepatic tissue increases, whereas genetic deletion of Panx1 appears to exert a protective effect against disease progression. This study aimed to explore the role of Panx1 in regulating mesenteric arterial tone in a mouse model of obstructive cholestasis (OC) induced by common bile duct ligation for three weeks. In wild-type mice, OC elevated Panx1 expression in mesenteric arteries, but contractile responses to an α1-adrenoceptor agonist and ATP remained unchanged. In contrast, mesenteric arteries from Panx1 knockout mice exhibited enhanced responses to both agonists under OC, along with increased NTPDase1 mRNA levels. These effects of OC in knockout animals may be associated with the activation of Panx1-independent pathways of ATP release from cells.