Given the link between Cx43-NLRP3 activation in retinopathy and that increased inflammasome expression in DN correlates with increased proteinuria and declining GFR (Fig. 2), we investigated a role for Cx43 hemichannels in regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation in primary human RPTECs, when pre-incubated with Tonabersat and cultured in high (25mM) glucose with a cocktail of inflammatory cytokines. This evidence concerns the gene GJA1 and retinal disorder.