UNLABELLED: Endothelial cell (EC) injury is a major contributing factor to vascular surgical failure. As such, understanding the mechanisms of endothelial healing is essential to the development of vascular therapeutics and procedures. Gap junctions formed by connexin 43 (Cx43) are implicated in regulating skin wound healing, but their role in endothelial healing is unknown. Secondary analysis of RNAseq data from NEW AND NOTEWORTHY: These findings demonstrate for the first time that mechanical injury to large artery endothelium induces the expression of gap junction protein Cx43. This upregulation improves migratory and proliferative capacity of endothelial cells at the wound edge, facilitating timely wound closure. This phenomenon is dependent on appropriate gap junction function and turnover.