Figure 7.

A peptide targeting Cx40 function decreases tumoral growth in Cx37−/− mice. One day after the s.c. injection of TC-1 cells, WT (n = 12, black lines) and Cx37−/− mice (n = 16, red lines) received a daily i.p. injection of either the ⁴⁰Gap27 peptide, which specifically targets Cx40 channels, or its scrambled version, which served as control. The plot shows the mean ± SEM tumor volumes as a function of time. After 19 days, the growth of TC-1 tumors that received the scramble version of the peptide was significantly slower in Cx37−/− than in WT mice. In both groups of mice, the animals that received the ⁴⁰Gap27 peptide developed smaller tumors than the animals which received its scrambled form. Significant differences in tumor growth, as judged by the area under the curve, were determined using a one-way ANOVA and a Sidak’s multiple comparisons post-test. Cx37−/− + scramble vs. WT + scramble (grey); Cx37−/− + scramble vs. Cx37−/− + 40Gap27 (red); WT + 40Gap27 vs. WT+ scramble (black); Cx37−/− + 40Gap27 vs. WT+ scramble (black dash line). * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; **** p < 0.0001.