Extracellular ATP-mediated phospholipase A(2) activation in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells: regulation by a G(i)/G(o) protein, Ca(2+), and mitogen-activated protein kinase

ATP-Gated P2X7 Receptors Require Chloride Channels To Promote Inflammation in Human Macrophages

Immune cells of myeloid origin show robust expression of ATP-gated P2X7 receptors, two-transmembrane ion channels permeable to Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ Receptor activation promotes inflammasome activation and release of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. In this study, we show that ATP generates facilitating cationic currents in monocyte-derived human macrophages and permeabilizes the plasma membrane to polyatomic cationic dyes. We find that antagonists of PLA₂ and Cl^- channels abolish P2X7 receptor-mediated current facilitation, membrane permeabilization, blebbing, phospholipid scrambling, inflammasome activation, and IL-1β release. Our data demonstrate significant differences in the actions of ATP in murine and human macrophages and suggest that PLA₂ and Cl^- channels mediate innate immunity downstream of P2X7 receptors in human macrophages.

Purinergic signaling pathways in endocrine system

Adenosine-5'-triphosphate is released by neuroendocrine, endocrine, and other cell types and acts as an extracellular agonist for ligand-gated P2X cationic channels and G protein-coupled P2Y receptors in numerous organs and tissues, including the endocrine system. The breakdown of ATP by ectonucleotidases not only terminates its extracellular messenger functions, but also provides a pathway for the generation of two additional agonists: adenosine 5'-diphosphate, acting via some P2Y receptors, and adenosine, a native agonist for G protein-coupled adenosine receptors, also expressed in the endocrine system. This article provides a review of purinergic signaling pathways in the hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory cells and neurohypophysis, hypothalamic parvocellular neuroendocrine system, adenohypophysis, and effector glands organized in five axes: hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal, hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, hypothalamic-pituitary-growth hormone, and hypothalamic-pituitary-prolactin. We attempted to summarize current knowledge of purinergic receptor subtypes expressed in the endocrine system, including their roles in intracellular signaling, hormone secretion, and other cell functions. We also briefly review the release mechanism for adenosine-5'-triphosphate by neuroendocrine, endocrine and surrounding cells, the enzymes involved in adenosine-5'-triphosphate hydrolysis to adenosine-5'-diphosphate and adenosine, and the relevance of this pathway for sequential activation of receptors and termination of signaling.

Molecular pathways associated with aggressiveness of papillary thyroid cancer

The most common thyroid malignancy is papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Mortality rates from PTC mainly depend on its aggressiveness. Geno- and phenotyping of aggressive PTC has advanced our understanding of treatment failures and of potential future therapies. Unraveling molecular signaling pathways of PTC including its aggressive forms will hopefully pave the road to reduce mortality but also morbidity from this cancer. The mitogen-activated protein kinase and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway as well as the family of RAS oncogenes and BRAF as a member of the RAF protein family and the aberrant expression of microRNAs miR-221, miR-222, and miR-146b all play major roles in tumor initiation and progression of aggressive PTC. Small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting BRAF-mediated events, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, RET/PTC rearrangements, and other molecular targets, show promising results to improve treatment of radioiodine resistant, recurrent, and aggressive PTC.

Purinergic signalling in endocrine organs

There is widespread involvement of purinergic signalling in endocrine biology. Pituitary cells express P1, P2X and P2Y receptor subtypes to mediate hormone release. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) regulates insulin release in the pancreas and is involved in the secretion of thyroid hormones. ATP plays a major role in the synthesis, storage and release of catecholamines from the adrenal gland. In the ovary purinoceptors mediate gonadotrophin-induced progesterone secretion, while in the testes, both Sertoli and Leydig cells express purinoceptors that mediate secretion of oestradiol and testosterone, respectively. ATP released as a cotransmitter with noradrenaline is involved in activities of the pineal gland and in the neuroendocrine control of the thymus. In the hypothalamus, ATP and adenosine stimulate or modulate the release of luteinising hormone-releasing hormone, as well as arginine-vasopressin and oxytocin. Functionally active P2X and P2Y receptors have been identified on human placental syncytiotrophoblast cells and on neuroendocrine cells in the lung, skin, prostate and intestine. Adipocytes have been recognised recently to have endocrine function involving purinoceptors.

A Novel Bioassay for Detecting GPCR Heterodimerization

Many G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been shown to form heteromeric complexes primarily by biochemical methods, including competitive radioligand binding assays or measurements of changes in second-messenger concentration in lysed cells. These results are often cell line specific, and the expression of other cell surface proteins makes it difficult to detect potential functional consequences of GPCR interaction. Here, 2-electrode voltage clamping in Xenopus oocytes was used as a bioassay to explore heterodimerization of bradykinin type 2 receptor (Bk2R) and beta 2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR), using chloride channels as outputs for receptor activation. The data show for the first time that these 2 receptors heterodimerize with functional consequences. Stimulation with bradykinin induced activation of Gαq- and transactivation of Gαs-coupled pathways in oocytes expressing Bk2R and β2AR. To corroborate these data, potential receptor interaction was examined in PC12 cells, a cell line that endogenously expresses both receptors, and confirmed that stimulation with bradykinin transactivates β2AR. In both oocytes and PC12 cells, transactivation was ablated by Bk2R or β2AR inverse agonists, suggesting that transactivation occurred directly through both receptors. This is the first evidence of Bk2R/β2AR physical interaction, forming a functional heterodimer. The oocyte system may prove highly useful for exploration of GPCR heterodimerization and the functional consequences thereof.

Possible involvement of PPAR gamma in the regulation of basal channel opening of P2X7 receptor in cultured mouse astrocytes

AIMS

Recently, we demonstrated that cultured mouse astrocytes exhibited basal channel opening of P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) in the absence of any exogenous ligand, but the regulatory mechanism involved was not elucidated. Since our preliminary experiments suggested possible involvement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma in the regulation, we examined whether PPAR gamma regulated P2X7R basal channel opening in mouse astrocytes.

MAIN METHODS

P2X7R channel opening was assessed as to the uptake of a marker dye, YO-PRO-1 (YP), in the presence or absence of agonists and antagonists for PPAR gamma under a fluorescence microscope. Expression of PPAR gamma was evaluated by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry.

KEY FINDINGS

NSAIDs such as flufenamic acid (FFA) and indomethacin, which are a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and a PPAR gamma agonist, showed enhancing and inhibiting effects on YP uptake at low and high concentrations, respectively, and the enhanced uptake was abolished by periodate-oxidized ATP (oxATP), a selective P2X7R antagonist. The PPAR gamma agonists 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) and ciglitazone decreased the basal and FFA-enhanced YP uptake, while the antagonist GW9662 increased YP uptake, this effect being blocked by the agonists and also by oxATP. PPAR gamma was distributed in the nucleus and cytosolic/membrane fraction of cultured mouse astrocytes.

SIGNIFICANCE

These findings indicate that basal channel opening of P2X7R in mouse astrocytes is at least in part regulated by PPAR gamma.

P2X7 receptor stimulation of membrane internalization in a thyrocyte cell line

Using fluorescent membrane markers, we have previously shown that extracellular ATP stimulates both exocytosis and membrane internalization in the Fisher rat thyroid cell line FRTL. In this study, we examine the actions of ATP using whole-cell recording conditions that favor stimulation of membrane internalization. ATP stimulation of the P2X(7) receptor activated a reversible, Ca(2+)-permeable, cation conductance that slowly increased in size without changes in ion selectivity. ATP also induced a delayed irreversible decrease in cell capacitance (C(m)) that was equivalent to an 8% decrease in membrane surface area. Addition of guanosine 5'-0-2-thiodiphosphate to the pipette solution inhibited the ATP-induced decrease in C(m) without affecting channel activation. The effects of ATP on membrane conductance were mimicked by 2',3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-ATP, but not by UTP, adenosine, or 2-methylthio-ATP, and were inhibited by pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2'4'-disulfonic acid, adenosine 5'-triphosphate-2'3'-dialdehyde, and Cu(2+). The capacitance decrease persisted in Na(+)-, Ca(2+)- and Cl(-)-free external saline or with Ca(2+)-free pipette solution. It is concluded that ATP activation of the inotropic P2X(7) receptor stimulates membrane internalization by a mechanism that involves intracellular GTP, but does not require internal Ca(2+) or influx of Na(+) or Ca(2+) through the receptor-gated channel.

Progesterone primes zona pellucida-induced activation of phospholipase A2 during acrosomal exocytosis in guinea pig spermatozoa

We investigated, using guinea-pig spermatozoa as a model, whether phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is involved in progesterone or zona pellucida (ZP)-stimulated acrosomal exocytosis, if progesterone enhances ZP-induced activation of PLA2, and mechanisms underlying PLA2 regulation. Spermatozoa were capacitated and labeled in low Ca2+ medium with [14C]choline chloride or [14C]arachidonic acid, washed, and then exposed to millimolar Ca2+ and progesterone and/or ZP. Each agonist stimulated decrease of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and release of arachidonic acid and lysoPC, indicative of PLA2 activation. Aristolochic acid (a PLA2 inhibitor) abrogated lipid changes and exocytosis, indicating that these lipid changes are essential for exocytosis. Exposure of spermatozoa to submaximal concentrations of both progesterone and ZP resulted in a synergistic increase of arachidonic acid and lysoPC releases, and exocytosis, suggesting that, under natural conditions, both agonists interact to bring about acrosomal exocytosis. Progesterone-induced PLA2 activation appears to be mediated by a GABA(A)-like receptor, because bicuculline (a GABA(A) receptor antagonist) blocked arachidonic acid release and exocytosis. In agreement with this, GABA mimicked progesterone actions. ZP-induced activation of PLA2 seemed to be transduced via G(i) proteins because pertussis toxin blocked arachidonic acid release and acrosomal exocytosis. PLA2 may be regulated by PKC because progesterone- or ZP-induced release of arachidonic acid was blocked by the PKC inhibitors staurosporine or chelerythrine chloride. PLA2 could also be regulated by the cAMP-PKA pathway; inclusion of the PKA inhibitor 14-22 amide or H-89 led to a reduction in arachidonic acid release or exocytosis after progesterone or ZP. Taken together, these results suggest that PLA2 plays an essential role in progesterone or ZP-stimulated exocytosis with progesterone priming ZP action.

A P2X7 receptor stimulates plasma membrane trafficking in the FRTL rat thyrocyte cell line

Thyroid cells express a variety of P2Y and P2X purinergic receptor subtypes. G protein-coupled P2Y receptors influence a wide variety of thyrocyte-specific functions; however, functional P2X receptor-gated channels have not been observed. In this study, we used whole cell patch-clamp recording and fluorescence imaging of the plasma membrane marker FM1-43 to examine the effects of extracellular ATP on membrane permeability and trafficking in the Fisher rat thyroid cell line FRTL. We found a cation-selective current that was gated by ATP and 2',3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-ATP but not by UTP. The ATP-evoked currents were inhibited by pyridoxal phosphate 6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid, adenosine 5'-triphosphate-2',3'-dialdehyde, 100 microM Zn(2+), and 50 microM Cu(2+). Fluorescence imaging revealed pronounced, temperature-sensitive stimulation of exocytosis and membrane internalization by ATP with the same pharmacological profile as observed for activation of current. The EC(50) for ATP stimulation of internalization was 440 microM in saline containing 2 mM Ca(2+) and 2 mM Mg(2+), and 33 microM in low-Mg(2+), nominally Ca(2+)-free saline. Overall, the results are most consistent with activation of a P2X(7) receptor by ATP(4-). However, low permeability to N-methyl-d-glucamine(+) and the propidium cation YO-PRO-1 indicates absence of the cytolytic pore that often accompanies P2X(7) receptor activation. ATP stimulation of internalization occurs in Na(+)-free, Ca(2+)-free, or low-Mg(2+) saline and therefore does not depend on cation influx through the ATP-gated channel. We conclude that ATP activation of a P2X(7) receptor stimulates membrane internalization in FRTL cells via a transduction pathway that does not depend on cation influx.

Cellular Distribution and Functions of P2 Receptor Subtypes in Different Systems

This review is aimed at providing readers with a comprehensive reference article about the distribution and function of P2 receptors in all the organs, tissues, and cells in the body. Each section provides an account of the early history of purinergic signaling in the organ?cell up to 1994, then summarizes subsequent evidence for the presence of P2X and P2Y receptor subtype mRNA and proteins as well as functional data, all fully referenced. A section is included describing the plasticity of expression of P2 receptors during development and aging as well as in various pathophysiological conditions. Finally, there is some discussion of possible future developments in the purinergic signaling field.