Histamine-induced inositol phosphate accumulation in type-2 astrocytes

Histamine H1 receptor activation stimulates mitogenesis in human astrocytoma U373 MG cells

In human astrocytoma U373 MG cells that express histamine H1 receptors (180 +/- 6 fmol/mg protein) but not H2 or H3 receptors, histamine stimulated mitogenesis as assessed by [3H]-thymidine incorporation (173 +/- 2% of basal; EC50, 2.5 +/- 0.4 microM). The effect of 100 microM histamine was fully blocked by the selective H1 antagonist mepyramine (1 microM) and was markedly reduced (93 +/- 4% inhibition) by the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 (10 microM). The activator of protein kinase C (PKC) phorbol 12-tetradecanoyl-13-acetate (TPA, 100nM) stimulated [3H]-thymidine incorporation (270 +/- 8% of basal), and this response was not additive with that to 100 microM histamine. The incorporation of [3H]-thymidine induced by 100 microM histamine was partially reduced by the PKC inhibitor Ro 31-8220 (57 +/- 7% inhibition at 300 nM) and by the compound PD 098,059 (30 microM, 62 +/- 14% inhibition), an inhibitor of the mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) kinases MEK1/MEK2. These results show that histamine H1 receptor activation stimulates the proliferation of human astrocytoma U373 MG cells. The action of histamine appears to be partially mediated by PKC stimulation and MAPK activation.

Histamine-induced calcium entry in rat cerebellar astrocytes: evidence for capacitative and non-capacitative mechanisms

We have investigated the effects of histamine on the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) of cultured rat cerebellar astrocytes using fura-2-based Ca2+ imaging microscopy. Most of the cells responded to the application of histamine with an increase in [Ca2+]i which was antagonized by the H1 receptor blocker mepyramine. When histamine was applied for several minutes, the majority of the cells displayed a biphasic Ca2+ response consisting of an initial transient peak and a sustained component. In contrast to the initial transient [Ca2+]i response, the sustained, receptor-activated increase in [Ca2+]i was rapidly abolished by chelation of extracellular Ca2+ or addition of Ni2+, Mn2+, Co2+ and Zn2+, but was unaffected by nifedipine, an antagonist of L-type voltage-activated Ca2+ channels. These data indicate that the sustained increase in [Ca2+]i was dependent on Ca2+ influx. When intracellular Ca2+ stores were emptied by prolonged application of histamine in Ca2+-free conditions, Ca2+ re-addition after removal of the agonist did not lead to an 'overshoot' of [Ca2+]i indicative of store-operated Ca2+ influx. However, Ca2+ stores were refilled despite the absence of any substantial change in the fura-2 signal. Depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores using cyclopiazonic acid in Ca2+-free saline and subsequent re-addition of Ca2+ to the saline resulted in an increase in [Ca2+]i that was significantly enhanced in the presence of histamine. The results suggest that besides capacitative mechanisms, a non-capacitative, voltage-independent pathway is involved in histamine-induced Ca2+ entry into cultured rat cerebellar astrocytes.

Glial calcium: homeostasis and signaling function

Glial cells respond to various electrical, mechanical, and chemical stimuli, including neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and hormones, with an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). The increases exhibit a variety of temporal and spatial patterns. These [Ca2+]i responses result from the coordinated activity of a number of molecular cascades responsible for Ca2+ movement into or out of the cytoplasm either by way of the extracellular space or intracellular stores. Transplasmalemmal Ca2+ movements may be controlled by several types of voltage- and ligand-gated Ca(2+)-permeable channels as well as Ca2+ pumps and a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. In addition, glial cells express various metabotropic receptors coupled to intracellular Ca2+ stores through the intracellular messenger inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate. The interplay of different molecular cascades enables the development of agonist-specific patterns of Ca2+ responses. Such agonist specificity may provide a means for intracellular and intercellular information coding. Calcium signals can traverse gap junctions between glial cells without decrement. These waves can serve as a substrate for integration of glial activity. By controlling gap junction conductance, Ca2+ waves may define the limits of functional glial networks. Neuronal activity can trigger [Ca2+]i signals in apposed glial cells, and moreover, there is some evidence that glial [Ca2+]i waves can affect neurons. Glial Ca2+ signaling can be regarded as a form of glial excitability.

Histamine H1 receptor activation stimulates [3H]GABA release from human astrocytoma U373 MG cells

In U373 MG cells, a line derived from a human astrocytoma, histamine stimulated the release of [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid ([3H]GABA) in a concentration-dependent manner (286 +/- 23% of basal release at 1 mM histamine). Neither Ca2+ removal nor Cd2+ (100 microM) affected [3H]GABA release evoked by 100 microM histamine but the response was significantly reduced by 10 microM U-73122 ({1-[6-((17 beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl)-amino)-hexyl]-1 H-pyrrole-2,5-dione}), an inhibitor of phospholipase C activation (79 +/- 8% inhibition) and by 10 microM dimethylbenzamil, a selective blocker of plasma membrane Na+/Ca2+ exchange (58 +/- 6% inhibition). In [3H]inositol-labelled cells histamine stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation (EC50, 17 +/- 2 microM; maximum effect, 203 +/- 4% of basal). Histamine-evoked Ca2+ mobilisation yielded an EC50 of 12 +/- 2 microM and maximum delta[Ca2+]i of 337 +/- 23 nM. Thapsigargin (1 nM) increased [Ca2+]i (delta[Ca2+]i 164 +/- 12 nM) and prevented any further increase by histamine (100 microM). The effects of histamine on [3H]GABA release, [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation and Ca2+ mobilisation were blocked by the selective histamine H1 receptor antagonist mepyramine. Taken together, these results indicate that histamine stimulates [3H]GABA release by increasing [Ca2+]i. The mechanism of release may be related to changes in transmembranal Na+ gradients and reversal of GABA carrier transport due to stimulation of plasma membrane Na+/Ca2+ exchange.

Adenosine A1 receptor-mediated inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation in type-2 but not type-1 rat astrocytes

The effects of adenosine receptor-selective ligands on [3H]cyclic AMP accumulation have been investigated in type-1 and type-2 astrocyte-enriched cultures derived from neonatal rat forebrains. In type-1 astrocytes, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) caused a concentration-dependent increase in [3H]cyclic AMP accumulation (EC50 = 1.2 microM) which was antagonised by pretreatment with either xanthine amine congener (8-[4-[[[[(2-aminoethyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]oxy]-phenyl]- 1,3-dipropylxanthine, apparent Kd = 9 nM) or PD115,199 (N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-N-methyl-4-(1,3-dipropylxanthine) benzene sulphonamide, apparent Kd = 122 nM). In these cultures, N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), did not affect forskolin- or isoprenaline-mediated elevations of [3H]cyclic AMP accumulation. These data indicate that type-1 astrocytes possess adenosine A2B but not adenosine A1 receptors coupled to adenylyl cyclase. In type-2 astrocyte-enriched cultures, 10 microM NECA caused significant elevations of [3H]cyclic AMP accumulation which were similarly inhibited by either 1 microM xanthine amine congener or 10 microM PD115,199 suggesting that they were primarily due to adenosine A2B receptor stimulation. However, CGS 21680 ((2-[[4-(2-carboxyethyl) phenethyl]-amino]adenosine-5'-N-ethylcarboxamide, 10 microM), also significantly increased [3H]cyclic AMP accumulation in type-2 astrocytes suggesting the additional presence of adenosine A2A receptors. Forskolin-mediated elevations of [3H]cyclic AMP accumulation in type-2 astrocytes were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by CPA. This effect was reversed by 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, 0.1 microM), confirming the presence of adenosine A1 receptors negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase in type-2 astrocytes.

Calcium signalling in mouse Bergmann glial cells mediated by alpha1-adrenoreceptors and H1 histamine receptors

The presence of adrenergic and histaminergic receptors in Bergmann glial cells from cerebellar slices from mice aged 20-25 days was determined using fura-2 Ca2+ microfluorimetry. To measure the cytoplasmic concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), either individual cells were loaded with the Ca2+-sensitive probe fura-2 using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique or slices were incubated with a membrane permeable form of the dye (fura-2/AM) and the microfluorimetric system was focused on individual cells. The monoamines adrenalin and noradrenalin (0.1-10 microM) and histamine (10-100 microM) triggered a transient increase in [Ca2+]i. The involvement of the alpha1-adrenoreceptor was inferred from the observations that monoamine-triggered [Ca2+]i responses were locked by the selective alpha1-adreno-antagonist prazosin and were mimicked by the alpha1-adreno-agonist phenylephrine. The monoamine-induced [Ca2+]i signals were not affected by beta- and alpha2-adrenoreceptor antagonists (propranolol and yohimbine), and were not mimicked by beta- and alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonists (isoproterenol and clonidine). Histamine-induced [Ca2+]i responses demonstrated specific sensitivity to only H1 histamine receptor modulators. [Ca2+]i responses to monoamines and histamine did not require the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and they were blocked by preincubation of slices with thapsigargin (500 nM), indicating that the [Ca2+]i responses were recorded after application of aspartate, bradykinin, dopamine, GABA, glycine, oxytocin, serotonin, somatostatin, substance P, taurine or vasopressin. We conclude that cerebellar Bergmann glial cells are endowed with alpha1-adrenoreceptors and H1 histamine receptors which induce the generation of intracellular [Ca2+]i signals via activation of Ca2+ release from inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive intracellular stores.

A comparative study of arachidonic acid metabolism in rabbit cultured astrocytes and human astrocytoma cells (1321N1)

1. ATP, bradykinin (BK), and A-23187 activated the generation of prostaglandin (PG) E2 and thromboxane (TX) B2 in rabbit astrocytes, but not in human astrocytoma cells (1321N1). 2. In human astrocytoma cells, ATP, BK, and A-23187 could not release [3H]arachidonic acid (AA) from [3H]AA-labeled cells and exogenous AA was not converted to TXB2 and PGE2, suggesting the lack of phospholipase (PL) A2 and cyclooxygenase activities in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells, although they express TXA2 receptors. 3. In rabbit astrocytes, ATP and BK, but not A-23187, showed increased accumulation of inositol phosphates, indicating that an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration alone would not be enough to activate PLC. Furthermore, indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, partially attenuated ATP-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis, indicating that cyclooxygenase product(s) would secondarily activate PLC in response to ATP.

Adenosine A1 receptor-mediated changes in basal and histamine-stimulated levels of intracellular calcium in primary rat astrocytes

1. The effects of adenosine A1 receptor stimulation on basal and histamine-stimulated levels of intracellular free calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) have been investigated in primary astrocyte cultures derived from neonatal rat forebrains. 2. Histamine (0.1 microM-1 mM) caused rapid, concentration-dependent increases in [Ca2+]i over basal levels in single type-2 astrocytes in the presence of extracellular calcium. A maximum mean increase of 1,468 +/- 94 nM over basal levels was recorded in 90% of type-2 cells treated with 1 mM histamine (n = 49). The percentage of type-2 cells exhibiting calcium increases in response to histamine appeared to vary in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the application of 1 mM histamine to type-1 astrocytes had less effect, eliciting a mean increase in [Ca2+]i of 805 +/- 197 nM over basal levels in only 30% of the cells observed (n = 24). 3. In the presence of extracellular calcium, the A1 receptor-selective agonist, N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, 10 microM), caused a maximum mean increase in [Ca2+]i of 1,110 +/- 181 nM over basal levels in 30% of type-2 astrocytes observed (n = 53). The size of this response was concentration-dependent; however, the percentage of type-2 cells exhibiting calcium increases in response to CPA did not appear to vary in a concentration-dependent manner. A mean calcium increase of 605 +/- 89 nM over basal levels was also recorded in 23% of type-1 astrocytes treated with 10 microM CPA (n = 30). 4. In the absence of extracellular calcium, in medium containing 0.1 mM EGTA, a mean increase in [Ca2+]i of 504 +/- 67 nM over basal levels was recorded in 41% of type-2 astrocytes observed (n = 41) after stimulation with 1 microM CPA. However, in the presence of extracellular calcium, pretreatment with the A1 receptor-selective antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, for 5-10 min before stimulation with 1 microM CPA, completely antagonized the response in 100% of the cells observed. 5. In type-2 astrocytes, prestimulation with 10 nM CPA significantly increased the size of the calcium response produced by 0.1 microM histamine and the percentage of responding cells. Treatment with 0.1 microM histamine alone caused a mean calcium increase of 268 +/- 34 nM in 41% of the cells observed (n = 34). After treatment with 10 nM CPA, mean calcium increase of 543 +/- 97 nM was recorded in 100% of the cells observed (n = 33). 6. These data indicate that adenosine Al receptors couple to intracellular calcium mobilization and extracellular calcium influx in type-1 and type-2 astrocytes in primary culture. In addition, the simultaneous activation of adenosine Al receptors on type-2 astrocytes results in an augmentation of the calcium response to histamine H1 receptor stimulation.

Receptors on astrocytes--what possible functions?

Receptors for transmitters, as varied as those expressed by neurons, have been described on primary astrocyte cultures prepared from new-born rats and mice. A variety of functional effects and considerable cell-to-cell and regional heterogeneity have been observed for such receptors in vitro. The various systems available for studying the presence and properties of receptors on astrocytes in situ, and the results from these studies, are discussed. Much fewer studies using these more difficult systems have been done. So far, some resemblances and differences between in situ and in vitro work have been observed. More of these in situ studies, to supplement the ongoing in vitro work, are needed to enable us to determine unequivocally which receptors are present on astrocytes, and their functions in vivo. If there is cell-to-cell and CNS regional heterogeneity in vivo comparable to that seen in vitro, these analyses will be very complex. To illustrate the importance and variety of receptor-linked functions, a number of suggestions are made in this commentary, based on current proposals for the roles of astrocytes. However, it is argued that we need to have a more complete understanding of astrocyte functions in vivo, before we can really understand the functional significance of astrocyte receptors.

Endogenous expression of histamine H1 receptors functionally coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis in C6 glioma cells: regulation by cyclic AMP

1. The effects of histamine receptor agonists and antagonists on phospholipid hydrolysis in rat-derived C6 glioma cells have been investigated. 2. Histamine H1 receptor-stimulation caused a concentration-dependent increase in the accumulation of total [3H]-inositol phosphates in cells prelabelled with [3H]-myo-inositol. The rank order of agonist potencies was histamine (EC50 = 24 microM) > N alpha-methylhistamine (EC50 = 31 microM) > 2-thiazolylethylamine (EC50 = 91 microM). 3. The response to 0.1 mM histamine was antagonized in a concentration-dependent manner by the H1-antagonists, mepyramine (apparent Kd = 1 nM) and (+)-chlorpheniramine (apparent Kd = 4 nM). In addition, (-)-chlorpheniramine was more than two orders of magnitude less potent than its (+)-stereoisomer. 4. Elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation with forskolin (10 microM, EC50 = 0.3 microM), isoprenaline (1 microM, EC50 = 4 nM) or rolipram (0.5 mM), significantly reduced the histamine-mediated (0.1 mM) inositol phosphate response by 37%, 43% and 26% respectively. In contrast, 1,9-dideoxyforskolin did not increase cyclic AMP accumulation and had no effect on the phosphoinositide response to histamine. 5. These data indicate the presence of functionally coupled, endogenous histamine H1 receptors in C6 glioma cells. Furthermore, the results also indicate that H1 receptor-mediated phospholipid hydrolysis is inhibited by the elevation of cyclic AMP levels in these cells.

Formation of inositol phosphates mediated by M3 muscarinic receptors in type-1 and type-2 astrocytes from neonatal rat cerebral cortex

Muscarinic receptor subtype in type-1 and type-2 astrocytes from rat neonalal cerebral cortex was examined for carbachol-elicited inositol phosphate (IP) formation. The formation of carbachol-elicited IP was inhibited by various muscarinic antagonists in the following relative order of potency: 4-DAMP > or = atropine >> pirenzepine > AF-DX 116. This pharmacological profile suggests that the activation of the M3 muscarinic receptor subtype is responsible for the stimulation of IP formation in both astrocytes.

Histamine and prostanoid receptors on glial cells

Glial cells in vitro express at least two types (H1 and H2) of histamine receptors and three types (EP, FP, and TP) of prostanoid receptors. The receptors expressed by glial cells differ according to the cell type and source in the brain. Furthermore primary astrocytes of same type derived from the same brain region are composed of heterogeneous subpopulations expressing different subsets of receptors. Fura-2 based Ca2+ microscopy revealed that astrocyte processes are important sites for histamine-induced Ca2+ signalling. Histamine and prostanoid receptors on glial cells may play important roles in the actions of histamine and prostanoids in the central nervous system.

Calcium-dependence of histamine- and carbachol-induced inositol phosphate formation in human U373 MG astrocytoma cells: comparison with HeLa cells and brain slices

1. Histamine (1 mM) induced an accumulation of inositol monophosphate ([3H]-IP1) in the U373 MG human astrocytoma cell line which increased with time in the presence of 30 mM Li+. After a 30 min incubation period with 1 mM histamine [3H]-IP1 was the major product detected (84 +/- 1% of total [3H]-IPx) and was present at a level 11 (+/- 1) fold of basal accumulation. 2. Concentration-response curves for histamine-induced [3H]-IP1 accumulation in U373 MG cells (EC50 5.4 +/- 0.5 microM) were shifted to the right in a parallel fashion by mepyramine (slope of a Schild plot 0.99 +/- 0.08), yielding a Kd for mepyramine of 3.5 +/- 0.3 nM, consistent with the involvement of histamine H1-receptors. 3. The temelastine-sensitive binding of [3H]-mepyramine to a membrane fraction from U373 MG cells was hyperbolic and had a mean Kd of 2.5 +/- 1.0 nM. The maximum amount of temelastine-sensitive binding was 86 +/- 19 pmol g-1 membrane protein. 4. Carbachol also induced [3H]-IP1 accumulation in U373 MG cells, 2.8 (+/- 0.1) fold of basal with 1 mM carbachol, with an EC50 of 48 +/- 8 microM. Pirenzepine shifted carbachol concentration-response curves to the right (slope of Schild plot 0.89 +/- 0.07) giving a Kd for pirenzepine of 0.10 +/- 0.01 microM, suggesting that phosphoinositide hydrolysis in U373 MG cells is mediated by the M3-, rather than the M1-, muscarinic receptor subtype. 5. [3H]-IP1 accumulation induced by both 1 mM histamine and by 1 mM carbachol increased when the Ca2+ concentration of the medium was increased from 'zero' (no added Ca2+) to 0.3 mM. Histamine-stimulated [3H]-IP1 accumulation was further increased, although not so markedly, as the Ca2+ was raised to 4 mM. The same pattern was apparent with histamine-induced accumulations of [3H]-IP2 and [3H]-IP3. In contrast, [3H]-IPx accumulation in response to carbachol increased between 0.3 and 1.3 mM, but thereafter remained unchanged ([3H]-IP1) or declined ([3H]-IP2 and [3H]-IP3). 6. In HeLa cells, [3H]-IP1 accumulations induced by 1 mM histamine and 1 mM carbachol showed the same pattern of Ca2+ dependence and were independent of extracellular Ca2+ above 0.3 mM (histamine) or 1.3 mM (carbachol). The response to carbachol appeared to be mediated by an M3-muscarinic receptor (apparent Kd for pirenzepine 0.09 microM). 7. In cross-chopped slices of guinea-pig cerebral cortex and guinea-pig cerebellum, [3H]-IPI accumulation induced by 1 mM histamine in the presence of 10 mM Li+ increased as the extracellular Ca2+ was increased from 0.3 to 2.5 mM, but a further increase to 4 mM had no further effect. In contrast the response to histamine in rat cerebral cortex increased markedly between 1.3 and 4 mM Ca2+. Accumulations of [3H]-IP1 induced by carbachol in guinea-pig or rat cerebral cortical slices were not increased as extracellular Ca2+ was raised from 0.3 to 4 mM.8. Nimodipine (100 nM) and w-conotoxin (3 microM) had no significant effect on histamine-induced [3H]-IP1accumulation in rat cerebral cortical slices or in U373 MG cells. 9. We conclude that histamine-induced [3H]-IP1 accumulation in U373 MG cells does appear to have a component dependent on the extracellular Ca2+ concentration. The degree of Ca2+-dependence approaches that observed in guinea-pig cerebral cortex but is much less than in rat cerebral cortex.Whether U373 MG cells will be of use as a model system for the apparent Ca2+-entry component observed in guinea-pig or rat brain slices remains to be established.

Type-1 and type-2 astrocytes are distinct targets for prostaglandins D2, E2, and F2 alpha

Accumulating evidence has revealed that astrocytes are potential targets for various neurotransmitters. Here we investigated the effects of prostaglandins (PGs) on signal transduction in purified primary cultures of rat type-1 and type-2 astrocytes. PGF2 alpha, PGD2, and 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2, a metabolite of PGD2 and a stereoisomer of PGF2 alpha, evoked a rapid rise in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in type-1, but not in type-2, astrocytes. STA2, a stable analogue of thromboxane A2, was less effective, and PGE2 showed little effect. The PG-induced rise in [Ca2+]i was not blocked by an antagonist of either PGD2 receptor or thromboxane A2 receptor. PGF2 alpha and 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 stimulated rapid formation of inositol trisphosphate followed by inositol bisphosphate and inositol monophosphate. On the other hand, PGE2 increased the intracellular level of cyclic AMP in type-2 astrocytes, rather than in type-1 astrocytes. The potency of PGs for cyclic AMP formation was in the following order: PGE2 greater than PGE1 greater than or equal to STA2 much greater than iloprost, a stable analogue of PGI2. PGD2 and PGF2 alpha had no effect on cyclic AMP formation. These results demonstrate that type-1 astrocytes preferentially express PGF2 alpha receptors, the activation of which leads to phosphoinositide metabolism and [Ca2+]i elevation, whereas type-2 astrocytes possess PGE receptors that are linked to cyclic AMP formation.

Histamine-induced cyclic AMP accumulation in type-1 and type-2 astrocytes in primary culture

Histamine-induced cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation was studied in purified primary cultures of type-1 and type-2 astrocytes from neonatal rat brain. Histamine induced remarkable cAMP accumulation in type-1 astrocytes in a dose-dependent manner (EC50 = 1.2 x 10(-5) M, Emax = 1100% of control). In contrast, histamine had no significant effect on cAMP accumulation in type-2 astrocytes. Famotidine, an H2-antagonist, dose-dependently inhibited histamine-induced cAMP accumulation in type-1 astrocytes (Ki = 3 x 10(-8) M), but mepyramine (10(-6) M), an H1-antagonist, had no effect. Dimaprit and impromidine, H2-agonists, stimulated cAMP accumulation, but 2-pyridylethylamine, an H1-agonist, did not stimulate it nor augment the H2-agonist-induced cAMP accumulation. These results indicate that (1) histamine induces cAMP accumulation in type-1 astrocytes but not in type-2 astrocytes, and that (2) histamine-induced cAMP accumulation in type-1 astrocytes is mediated by H2-receptors without significant augmentation via H1-receptors.