Our findings provide a dual function of connexin43 (Cx43) and gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in the neural development of human progenitor cells. 1) GJIC accompanied by high Cx43 expression is necessary to maintain cells in a proliferative state by mediating the mitogenic effects of growth factors. 2) GJIC is required to complete neuronal differentiation, including the establishment of a neural network. However, uncoupling of cells is crucial in the early stage of differentiation during cell fate commitment. Further, we showed that Cx43 regulates neuronal cell-fate.
