Resumen
Cell-to-cell communication is important for tissue homeostasis and is, in general, decreased in cancer cells. The aCT1 peptide mimics the regulatory cytoplasmic domain of connexin 43 (Cx43), a protein that forms the gap junctions, and redirects uncoupled Cx43 hemichannels into gap junctions, reducing gap junction turnover and changing its aggregation without affecting Cx43 protein levels. In this study, we investigated the effects of the aCT1 peptides on the viability of canine benign and malignant mammary epithelial cells. The aCT1 peptide exerted differential effects on the viability of canine adenoma and adenocarcinoma cells while preserving the normal canine mammary epithelial cells. aCT1 may be possibly included in therapeutic protocols for canine mammary neoplasms.