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Fig. 1 | Journal of Inflammation

Fig. 1

From: Coupled cell networks are target cells of inflammation, which can spread between different body organs and develop into systemic chronic inflammation

Fig. 1

Schematic illustration highlighting the different organs in the body that comprise cells coupled into networks. These cells are excitable but do not express action potentials. They are equipped with Ca2+ signaling systems, and the transport of small molecules between the cells occurs through gap junctions. Examples of cells coupled into networks are astrocytes in the brain, keratinocytes in the skin and buccal membranes, chondrocytes in the articular cartilage, osteoblasts in bone, connective tissue cells such as epithelial cells in the cornea and tenocytes in the ligaments, cardiac fibroblasts in the heart, hepatocytes in the liver, and different types of glandular cells throughout the body. The illustration was created by Pontus Andersson, ArtProduction, Gothenburg, Sweden

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