The P2Y14 receptor activity in glioma C6 cells

UDP-glucose regulates dendritic cell mitochondrial respiration via a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism

Bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (BMDC) activation is associated with rewiring of cellular metabolism and concurrent large-scale changes in gene expression promoting a proinflammatory program characterized by expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and the production of nitric oxide (NO). NO inhibits vital cellular activities including mitochondrial respiration. Mitochondrial respiration inhibition via NO occurs at discrete levels of activating stimulus, termed the mitochondrial respiration threshold, and regulation of this threshold is not fully understood. In this work, we characterize the role of uridine diphosphate glucose as a modulator of NO-mediated mitochondrial respiration inhibition via P2Y14 receptor signaling in stimulated BMDCs. We demonstrate that BMDCs exhibit an enhanced proinflammatory profile in the presence of uridine diphosphate glucose, providing evidence for a new NO regulatory axis in BMDCs. These studies highlight the importance of the growing body of literature supporting metabolites as signaling molecules in activating conditions thus allowing for better modeling of physiologically relevant contexts for myeloid cell encounters with microbial stimuli.

Abnormal glycosylation in glioma: related changes in biology, biomarkers and targeted therapy

Glioma is a rapidly growing and aggressive primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system that can diffusely invade the brain tissue around, and the prognosis of patients is not significantly improved by traditional treatments. One of the most general posttranslational modifications of proteins is glycosylation, and the abnormal distribution of this modification in gliomas may shed light on how it affects biological behaviors of glioma cells, including proliferation, migration, and invasion, which may be produced by regulating protein function, cell-matrix and cell‒cell interactions, and affecting receptor downstream pathways. In this paper, from the perspective of regulating protein glycosylation changes and abnormal expression of glycosylation-related proteins (such as glycosyltransferases in gliomas), we summarize how glycosylation may play a crucial role in the discovery of novel biomarkers and new targeted treatment options for gliomas. Overall, the mechanistic basis of abnormal glycosylation affecting glioma progression remains to be more widely and deeply explored, which not only helps to inspire researchers to further explore related diagnostic and prognostic markers but also provides ideas for discovering effective treatment strategies and improving glioma patient survival and prognosis.

Novel Non-Opioid Based Therapeutics for Chronic Neuropathic Pain

Chronic neuropathic pain is currently a major health issue in U.S. complicated by the lack of non-opioid analgesic alternatives. Our investigations led to the discovery of major signaling pathways involved in the transition of acute to chronic neuropathic pain and the identification of several targets for therapeutic intervention. Our translational approach has facilitated the advancement of novel medicines for chronic neuropathic pain that are in advanced clinical development and clinical trials.

UDP-glucose, a cellular danger signal, and nucleotide receptor P2Y14 enhance the invasion of human extravillous trophoblast cells

INTRODUCTION

P2Y14, one of the P2Y purinergic G-protein coupled receptors, is expressed in a variety of cells and tissues. Its ligand, UDP-glucose (UDPG), is released from damaged and stress-stimulated cells and acts as a danger signal via P2Y14. Thus, P2Y14 plays an important role in immunological defense systems. Here, we aimed to elucidate the expression, localization, and role of P2Y14 in human trophoblasts and the placenta.

METHODS

Human chorionic villus and placental tissues were subjected to immunostaining for P2Y14 protein and an extravillous trophoblast (EVT) marker, HLA-G. We examined the expression of P2Y14 and the effect of UDPG on cell proliferation and invasion in an EVT cell line, HTR-8/SVneo, using an MTS assay and a Transwell assay, respectively. We tested the effect of UDPG on cell invasion in P2Y14-underexpressing HTR-8/SVneo clones established by the lentiviral introduction of shRNA for P2RY14 mRNA.

RESULTS

Immunostaining revealed that P2Y14 was exclusively expressed by EVTs. P2RY14 mRNA and P2Y14 protein were expressed in HTR-8/SVneo cells. UDPG did not affect cell proliferation but it did enhance invasion. Inhibition of P2Y14 and decreasing the expression of P2Y14 suppressed UDPG-mediated invasive activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed that EVT selectively expressed P2Y14 and that P2Y14 was positively involved in UDPG-enhanced EVT invasion. It suggests the possible existence of a danger signal-mediated physiological system at the fetomaternal interface where UDPG released from maternal tissues through destruction by EVT invasion may accelerate EVT invasion, allowing EVTs to undergo successful placentation and vascular remodeling.

P2Y14 Receptor Antagonists Reverse Chronic Neuropathic Pain in a Mouse Model

Eight P2Y₁₄R antagonists, including three newly synthesized analogues, containing a naphthalene or phenyl-triazolyl scaffold were compared in a mouse model of chronic neuropathic pain (sciatic constriction). P2Y₁₄R antagonists rapidly (≤30 min) reversed mechano-allodynia, with maximal effects typically within 1 h after injection. Two analogues (4-[4-(4-piperidinyl)phenyl]-7-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid 1 and N-acetyl analogue 4, 10 μmol/kg, i.p.) achieved complete pain reversal (100%) at 1 to 2 h, with relief evident up to 5 h for 4 (41%). A reversed triazole analogue 7 reached 87% maximal protection. Receptor affinity was determined using a fluorescent antagonist binding assay, indicating similar mouse and human P2Y₁₄R affinity. The mP2Y₁₄R affinity was only partially predictive of in vivo efficacy, suggesting the influence of pharmacokinetic factors. Thus P2Y₁₄R is a potential therapeutic target for treating chronic pain.

Role of UDP-Sugar Receptor P2Y14 in Murine Osteoblasts

The purinergic (P2) receptor P2Y₁₄ is the only P2 receptor that is stimulated by uridine diphosphate (UDP)-sugars and its role in bone formation is unknown. We confirmed P2Y₁₄ expression in primary murine osteoblasts (CB-Ob) and the C2C12-BMP2 osteoblastic cell line (C2-Ob). UDP-glucose (UDPG) had undiscernible effects on cAMP levels, however, induced dose-dependent elevations in the cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) in CB-Ob, but not C2-Ob cells. To antagonize the P2Y₁₄ function, we used the P2Y₁₄ inhibitor PPTN or generated CRISPR-Cas9-mediated P2Y₁₄ knockout C2-Ob clones (Y14_KO). P2Y₁₄ inhibition facilitated calcium signalling and altered basal cAMP levels in both models of osteoblasts. Importantly, P2Y₁₄ inhibition augmented Ca²⁺ signalling in response to ATP, ADP and mechanical stimulation. P2Y₁₄ knockout or inhibition reduced osteoblast proliferation and decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation and increased AMPKα phosphorylation. During in vitro osteogenic differentiation, P2Y₁₄ inhibition modulated the timing of osteogenic gene expression, collagen deposition, and mineralization, but did not significantly affect differentiation status by day 28. Of interest, while P2ry14^-/- mice from the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium were similar to wild-type controls in bone mineral density, their tibia length was significantly increased. We conclude that P2Y₁₄ in osteoblasts reduces cell responsiveness to mechanical stimulation and mechanotransductive signalling and modulates osteoblast differentiation.

Cross-Talk in Nucleotide Signaling in Glioma C6 Cells

The chapter is focused on the mechanism of action of metabotropic P2Y nucleotide receptors: P2Y₁, P2Y₂, P2Y₁₂, P2Y₁₄ and the ionotropic P2X₇ receptor in glioma C6 cells. P2Y₁ and P2Y₁₂ both respond to ADP, but while P2Y₁ links to PLC and elevates cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration, P2Y₁₂ negatively couples to adenylate cyclase, maintaining cAMP at low level. In glioma C6, these two P2Y receptors modulate activities of ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling and the effects depend on physiological conditions of the cells. During prolonged serum deprivation, cell growth is arrested, the expression of the P2Y₁ receptor strongly decreases and P2Y₁₂ becomes a major player responsible for ADP-evoked signal transduction. The P2Y₁₂ receptor activates ERK1/2 kinase phosphorylation (a known cell proliferation regulator) and stimulates Akt activity, contributing to glioma invasiveness. In contrast, P2Y₁ has an inhibitory effect on Akt pathway signaling. Furthermore, the P2X₇ receptor, often responsible for apoptotic fate, is not involved in Ca²⁺elevation in C6 cells. The shift in nucleotide receptor expression from P2Y₁ to P2Y₁₂ during serum withdrawal, the cross talk between both receptors and the lack of P2X₇ activity shows the precise self-regulating mechanism, enhancing survival and preserving the neoplastic features of C6 cells.

UDP-sugars activate P2Y14 receptors to mediate vasoconstriction of the porcine coronary artery

Aims

UDP-sugars can act as extracellular signalling molecules, but relatively little is known about their cardiovascular actions. The P2Y₁₄ receptor is a G_i/o-coupled receptor which is activated by UDP-glucose and related sugar nucleotides. In this study we sought to investigate whether P2Y₁₄ receptors are functionally expressed in the porcine coronary artery using a selective P2Y₁₄ receptor agonist, MRS2690, and a novel selective P2Y₁₄ receptor antagonist, PPTN (4,7-disubstituted naphthoic acid derivative).

Methods and results

Isometric tension recordings were used to evaluate the effects of UDP-sugars in porcine isolated coronary artery segments. The effects of the P2 receptor antagonists suramin and PPADS, the P2Y₁₄ receptor antagonist PPTN, and the P2Y₆ receptor antagonist MRS2578, were investigated. Measurement of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation using flow cytometry was used to assess changes in cAMP levels. UDP-glucose, UDP-glucuronic acid UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (P2Y₁₄ receptor agonists), elicited concentration-dependent contractions of the porcine coronary artery. MRS2690 was a more potent vasoconstrictor than the UDP-sugars. Concentration dependent contractile responses to MRS2690 and UDP-sugars were enhanced in the presence of forskolin (activator of cAMP), where the level of basal tone was maintained by addition of U46619, a thromboxane A₂ mimetic. Contractile responses to MRS2690 were blocked by PPTN, but not by MRS2578. Contractile responses to UDP-glucose were also attenuated by PPTN and suramin, but not by MRS2578. Forskolin-induced VASP-phosphorylation was reduced in porcine coronary arteries exposed to UDP-glucose and MRS2690, consistent with P2Y₁₄ receptor coupling to G_i/o proteins and inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity.

Conclusions

Our data support a role of UDP-sugars as extracellular signalling molecules and show for the first time that they mediate contraction of porcine coronary arteries via P2Y₁₄ receptors.

UDP-Glucose: A Potential Signaling Molecule in Plants?

This perspective paper focuses on the most recent results suggesting a potential role for UDP-Glucose as a signaling molecule in plants. In animals, UDP-Glucose is well-established as an extracellular signaling molecule that is sensed by G-protein coupled receptors, activating several downstream defense mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that abnormal growth occurred in both vegetative and reproductive tissue of plants with reduced UDP-Glucose levels, and this could be rescued by exogenous UDP-Glucose. In plants with increased biomass accumulation, the genes involved in UDP-Glucose production were up-regulated. However, excessive endogenous accumulation of UDP-Glucose induced programmed cell death (PCD), and this could also be obtained by exogenous UDP-Glucose application. Plants with decreased UDP-glucose were insensitive to pathogen induced PCD. We speculate that UDP-Glucose acts as an extracellular signaling molecule in plants, and that it may be perceived as a damage-associated molecular pattern.

Renal intercalated cells sense and mediate inflammation via the P2Y14 receptor

Uncontrolled inflammation is one of the leading causes of kidney failure. Pro-inflammatory responses can occur in the absence of infection, a process called sterile inflammation. Here we show that the purinergic receptor P2Y14 (GPR105) is specifically and highly expressed in collecting duct intercalated cells (ICs) and mediates sterile inflammation in the kidney. P2Y14 is activated by UDP-glucose, a damage-associated molecular pattern molecule (DAMP) released by injured cells. We found that UDP-glucose increases pro-inflammatory chemokine expression in ICs as well as MDCK-C11 cells, and UDP-glucose activates the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway in MDCK-C11 cells. These effects were prevented following inhibition of P2Y14 with the small molecule PPTN. Tail vein injection of mice with UDP-glucose induced the recruitment of neutrophils to the renal medulla. This study identifies ICs as novel sensors, mediators and effectors of inflammation in the kidney via P2Y14.

Purinergic signalling and cancer

Receptors for extracellular nucleotides are widely expressed by mammalian cells. They mediate a large array of responses ranging from growth stimulation to apoptosis, from chemotaxis to cell differentiation and from nociception to cytokine release, as well as neurotransmission. Pharma industry is involved in the development and clinical testing of drugs selectively targeting the different P1 nucleoside and P2 nucleotide receptor subtypes. As described in detail in the present review, P2 receptors are expressed by all tumours, in some cases to a very high level. Activation or inhibition of selected P2 receptor subtypes brings about cancer cell death or growth inhibition. The field has been largely neglected by current research in oncology, yet the evidence presented in this review, most of which is based on in vitro studies, although with a limited amount from in vivo experiments and human studies, warrants further efforts to explore the therapeutic potential of purinoceptor targeting in cancer.

Characterization of the contractile P2Y14 receptor in mouse coronary and cerebral arteries

Extracellular UDP-glucose can activate the purinergic P2Y14 receptor. The aim of the present study was to examine the physiological importance of P2Y14 receptors in the vasculature. The data presented herein show that UDP-glucose causes contraction in mouse coronary and basilar arteries. The EC50 values and immunohistochemistry illustrated the strongest P2Y14 receptor expression in the basilar artery. In the presence of pertussis toxin, UDP-glucose inhibited contraction in coronary arteries and in the basilar artery it surprisingly caused relaxation. After organ culture of the coronary artery, the EC50 value decreased and an increased staining for the P2Y14 receptor was observed, showing receptor plasticity.

Cross-talk in nucleotide signaling in glioma C6 cells

The chapter is focused on the mechanism of action of metabotropic P2Y nucleotide receptors: P2Y(1), P2Y(2), P2Y(12), P2Y(14) and the ionotropic P2X(7) receptor in glioma C6 cells. P2Y(1) and P2Y(12) both respond to ADP, but while P2Y(1) links to PLC and elevates cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration, P2Y(12) negatively couples to adenylate cyclase, maintaining cAMP at low level. In glioma C6, these two P2Y receptors modulate activities of ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling and the effects depend on physiological conditions of the cells. During prolonged serum deprivation, cell growth is arrested, the expression of the P2Y(1) receptor strongly decreases and P2Y(12) becomes a major player responsible for ADP-evoked signal transduction. The P2Y(12) receptor activates ERK1/2 kinase phosphorylation (a known cell proliferation regulator) and stimulates Akt activity, contributing to glioma invasiveness. In contrast, P2Y(1) has an inhibitory effect on Akt pathway signaling. Furthermore, the P2X(7) receptor, often responsible for apoptotic fate, is not involved in Ca(2+)elevation in C6 cells. The shift in nucleotide receptor expression from P2Y(1) to P2Y(12) during serum withdrawal, the cross talk between both receptors and the lack of P2X(7) activity shows the precise self-regulating mechanism, enhancing survival and preserving the neoplastic features of C6 cells.

GPR105 ablation prevents inflammation and improves insulin sensitivity in mice with diet-induced obesity

GPR105, a G protein-coupled receptor for UDP-glucose, is highly expressed in several human tissues and participates in the innate immune response. Because inflammation has been implicated as a key initial trigger for type 2 diabetes, we hypothesized that GPR105 (official gene name: P2RY14) might play a role in the initiation of inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity. To this end, we investigated glucose metabolism in GPR105 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). We also examined whether GPR105 regulates macrophage recruitment to liver or adipose tissues by in vivo monocyte tracking and in vitro chemotaxis experiments, followed by transplantation of bone marrow from either KO or WT donors to WT recipients. Our data show that genetic deletion of GPR105 confers protection against HFD-induced insulin resistance, with reduced macrophage infiltration and inflammation in liver, and increased insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. By tracking monocytes from either KO or WT donors, we found that fewer KO monocytes were recruited to the liver of WT recipients. Furthermore, we observed that uridine 5-diphosphoglucose enhanced the in vitro migration of bone marrow-derived macrophages from WT but not KO mice, and that plasma uridine 5-diphosphoglucose levels were significantly higher in obese versus lean mice. Finally, we confirmed that insulin sensitivity improved in HFD mice with a myeloid cell-specific deletion of GPR105. These studies indicate that GPR105 ablation mitigates HFD-induced insulin resistance by inhibiting macrophage recruitment and tissue inflammation. Hence GPR105 provides a novel link between innate immunity and metabolism.

Signalling and pharmacological properties of the P2Y receptor

The P2Y(14) receptor is a relatively broadly expressed G protein-coupled receptor that is prominently associated with immune and inflammatory cells as well as with many epithelia. This receptor historically was thought to be activated selectively by UDP-glucose and other UDP-sugars. However, UDP is also a very potent agonist of this receptor, and may prove to be one of its most important cognate activators.

Gi-dependent cell signaling responses of the human P2Y14 receptor in model cell systems

Eight G protein-coupled receptors comprise the P2Y receptor family of cell signaling proteins. The goal of the current study was to define native cell signaling pathways regulated by the uridine nucleotide sugar-activated P2Y(14) receptor (P2Y(14)-R). The P2Y(14)-R was stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 and C6 rat glioma cells by retroviral infection. Nucleotide sugar-dependent P2Y(14)-R activation was examined by measuring inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. The effect of P2Y(14)-R activation on mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling also was studied in P2Y(14)-HEK293 cells and in differentiated HL-60 human myeloid leukemia cells. UDP-Glc, UDP-galactose, UDP-glucuronic acid, and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine promoted inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in P2Y(14)-HEK293 and P2Y(14)-C6 cells, and this signaling effect was abolished by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin. Inhibition of cAMP formation by nucleotide sugars also was observed in direct assays of adenylyl cyclase activity in membranes prepared from P2Y(14)-C6 cells. UDP-Glc promoted concentration-dependent and pertussis toxin-sensitive extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation in P2Y(14)-HEK293 cells. P2Y(14)-R mRNA was not observed in wild-type HL-60 cells but was readily detected in dimethyl sulfoxide-differentiated cells. Consistent with this observation, no effect of UDP-Glc was observed in wild-type HL-60 cells, but UDP-Glc-promoted pertussis toxin-sensitive activation of ERK1/2 occurred after differentiation. These results illustrate that the human P2Y(14)-R signals through G(i) to inhibit adenylyl cyclase, and P2Y(14)-R activation also leads to ERK1/2 activation. This work also identifies two stable P2Y(14)-R-expressing cell lines and differentiated HL-60 cells as model systems for the study of P2Y(14)-R-dependent signal transduction.