Connexin mimetic peptide Gap27 increases CYP11B2 expression and aldosterone production in Ang II-stimulated H295R cells. CYP11B2 ( n = 10) and aldosterone ( n = 12 except for 250 μM Gap27, n = 11) are increased in stimulated H295R cells treated with Gap27, which selectively blocks GJ communications. Results expressed as fold change relative to cells treated with 0 μM Gap27. The effect of Gap27 on unstimulated cells is shown in Supplementary Fig. 8a . Ten percent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO 10%) treatment on unstimulated cells ( n = 8) was used as control for enhanced cell membrane permeability. Statistical significance measured using the Kruskal–Wallis H test; CYP11B2 , χ 2 (4) = 43.03, P = 1.02 × 10 −8 and aldosterone, χ 2 (4) = 42.25, P = 1.48 × 10 −8 , respectively. Post hoc testing was performed using Dunn’s multiple comparison test (compared to 0 μM Gap27). For CYP11B2 , # P = 0.0039, ## P = 0.002. For aldosterone, * P = 0.0310, *** P = 0.0005, **** P < 0.0001.
