An introduction to the roles of purinergic signalling in neurodegeneration, neuroprotection and neuroregeneration

Decreased parenchymal arteriolar tone uncouples vessel-to-neuronal communication in a mouse model of vascular cognitive impairment

Chronic hypoperfusion is a key contributor to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative conditions, but the cellular mechanisms remain ill-defined. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we sought to elucidate chronic hypoperfusion-evoked functional changes at the neurovascular unit. We used bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS), a well-established model of vascular cognitive impairment, combined with an ex vivo preparation that allows pressurization of parenchymal arterioles in a brain slice. Our results demonstrate that mild (~ 30%), chronic hypoperfusion significantly altered the functional integrity of the cortical neurovascular unit. Although pial cerebral perfusion recovered over time, parenchymal arterioles progressively lost tone, exhibiting significant reductions by day 28 post-surgery. We provide supportive evidence for reduced adenosine 1 receptor-mediated vasoconstriction as a potential mechanism in the adaptive response underlying the reduced baseline tone in parenchymal arterioles. In addition, we show that in response to the neuromodulator adenosine, the action potential frequency of cortical pyramidal neurons was significantly reduced in all groups. However, a significant decrease in adenosine-induced hyperpolarization was observed in BCAS 14 days. At the microvascular level, constriction-induced inhibition of pyramidal neurons was significantly compromised in BCAS mice. Collectively, these results suggest that BCAS uncouples vessel-to-neuron communication-vasculo-neuronal coupling-a potential early event in cognitive decline.

Methyl Jasmonate: Behavioral and Molecular Implications in Neurological Disorders

Methyl jasmonate (MJ) is a derivative of the jasmonate family which is found in most tropical regions of the world and present in many fruits and vegetables such as grapevines, tomato, rice, and sugarcane. MJ is a cyclopentanone phytohormone that plays a vital role in defense against stress and pathogens in plants. This has led to its isolation from plants for studies in animals. Many of these studies have been carried out to evaluate its therapeutic effects on behavioral and neurochemical functions. It has however been proposed to have beneficial potential over a wide range of neurological disorders. Hence, this review aims to provide an overview of the neuroprotective properties of MJ and its probable mechanisms of ameliorating neurological disorders. The information used for this review was sourced from research articles and scientific databases using 'methyl jasmonate', 'behavior', 'neuroprotection', 'neurodegenerative diseases', and 'mechanisms' as search words. The review highlights its influences on behavioral patterns of anxiety, aggression, depression, memory, psychotic, and stress. The molecular mechanisms such as modulation of the antioxidant defense, inflammatory biomarkers, neurotransmitter regulation, and neuronal regeneration, underlying its actions in managing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are also discussed. This review, therefore, provides a detailed evaluation of methyl jasmonate as a potential neuroprotective compound with the ability to modify behavioral and molecular biomarkers underlying neurological disorders. Hence, MJ could be modeled as a guided treatment for the management of brain diseases.

Endogenous modulators of neurotrophin signaling: Landscape of the transient ATP-NGF interactions

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High-resolution solution NMR structure of rhNGF has been determined.

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Quinary interactions characterize ATP binding to rhNGF.

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SPR, ITC and STD-NMR reveal ATP binding to rhNGF with mM affinity.

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NMR and MD analysis pinpoint to the presence of two binding sites of ATP on rhNGF.

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Stoichiometry of ATP-Mg²⁺ or Zn²⁺-rhNGF mixtures affects K_D affinity to TrkA/p75^NTR.

The Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) neurotrophin acts in the maintenance and growth of neuronal populations. Despite the detailed knowledge of NGF’s role in neuron physiology, the structural and mechanistic determinants of NGF bioactivity modulated by essential endogenous ligands are still lacking. We present the results of an integrated structural and advanced computational approach to characterize the extracellular ATP-NGF interaction. We mapped by NMR the interacting surface and ATP orientation on NGF and revealed the functional role of this interaction in the binding to TrkA and p75^NTR receptors by SPR. The role of divalent ions was explored in conjunction with ATP. Our results pinpoint ATP as a likely transient molecular modulator of NGF signaling, in health and disease states.

P2X7 Receptors in Neurodegeneration: Potential Therapeutic Applications From Basic to Clinical Approaches

Purinergic receptors play important roles in central nervous system (CNS), where the bulk of these receptors are implicated in neuroinflammatory responses and regulation of cellular function of neurons, microglial and astrocytes. Within the P2X receptor family, P2X₇ receptor is generally known for its inactivity in normal conditions and activation by moderately high concentrations (>100 μM) of extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) released from injured cells as a result of brain injury or pathological conditions. Activation of P2X₇R contributes to the activation and proliferation of microglia and directly contribute to neurodegeneration by provoking microglia-mediated neuronal death, glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation that results in initiation, maturity and release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. These components of the inflammatory response play important roles in many neural pathologies and neurodegeneration disorders. In CNS, expression of P2X₇R on microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes are upregulated under neuroinflammatory conditions. Several in vivo studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of the P2X₇ receptor antagonists in animal model systems of neurodegenerative diseases. A number of specific and selective P2X₇ receptor antagonists have been developed, but only few of them have shown efficient brain permeability. Finding potent and selective P2X₇ receptor inhibitors which are also CNS penetrable and display acceptable pharmacokinetics (PK) has presented challenges for both academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies. In this review, we discuss the role of P2X₇ receptor function in neurodegenerative diseases, the pharmacological inhibition of the receptor, and PET radiopharmaceuticals which permit non-invasive monitoring of the P2X₇ receptor contribution to neuroinflammation associated with neurodegeneration.

Metabolism pathways of arachidonic acids: mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets

The arachidonic acid (AA) pathway plays a key role in cardiovascular biology, carcinogenesis, and many inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, arthritis, etc. Esterified AA on the inner surface of the cell membrane is hydrolyzed to its free form by phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which is in turn further metabolized by cyclooxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases (LOXs) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes to a spectrum of bioactive mediators that includes prostanoids, leukotrienes (LTs), epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (diHETEs), eicosatetraenoic acids (ETEs), and lipoxins (LXs). Many of the latter mediators are considered to be novel preventive and therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancers, and inflammatory diseases. This review sets out to summarize the physiological and pathophysiological importance of the AA metabolizing pathways and outline the molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of AA related to its three main metabolic pathways in CVD and cancer progression will provide valuable insight for developing new therapeutic drugs for CVD and anti-cancer agents such as inhibitors of EETs or 2J2. Thus, we herein present a synopsis of AA metabolism in human health, cardiovascular and cancer biology, and the signaling pathways involved in these processes. To explore the role of the AA metabolism and potential therapies, we also introduce the current newly clinical studies targeting AA metabolisms in the different disease conditions.

Retinal ganglion cell dysfunction in mice following acute intraocular pressure is exacerbated by P2X7 receptor knockout

There is increasing evidence for the vulnerability of specific retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types in those with glaucoma and in animal models. In addition, the P2X7-receptor (P2X7-R) has been suggested to contribute to RGC death following stimulation and elevated IOP, though its role in RGC dysfunction prior to death has not been examined. Therefore, we examined the effect of an acute, non-ischemic intraocular pressure (IOP) insult (50 mmHg for 30 min) on RGC function in wildtype mice and P2X7-R knockout (P2X7-KO) mice. We examined retinal function using electroretinogram recordings and individual RGC responses using multielectrode arrays, 3 days following acute IOP elevation. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine RGC cell death and P2X7-R expression in several RGC types. Acute intraocular pressure elevation produced pronounced dysfunction in RGCs; whilst other retinal neuronal responses showed lesser changes. Dysfunction at 3 days post-injury was not associated with RGC loss or changes in receptive field size. However, in wildtype animals, OFF-RGCs showed reduced spontaneous and light-elicited activity. In the P2X7-KO, both ON- and OFF-RGC light-elicited responses were reduced. Expression of P2X7-R in wildtype ON-RGC dendrites was higher than in other RGC types. In conclusion, OFF-RGCs were vulnerable to acute IOP elevation and their dysfunction was not rescued by genetic ablation of P2X7-R. Indeed, knockout of P2X7-R also caused ON-RGC dysfunction. These findings aid our understanding of how pressure affects RGC function and suggest treatments targeting the P2X7-R need to be carefully considered.

P2X7 receptors in the central nervous system

For the past three decades, our laboratory has conducted pioneering research to elucidate the complexity of purinergic signaling in the CNS, alone and in collaboration with other groups, inspired by the ground-breaking efforts of Geoffrey Burnstock. This review summarizes our contribution to understand the nucleotide receptor signaling in the CNS with a special focus on the P2X7 receptor.

Diabetes and hypertension: Pivotal involvement of purinergic signaling

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension are highly prevalent worldwide health problems and frequently associated with severe clinical complications, such as diabetic cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, stroke, and cardiac arrhythmia, among others. Despite all existing research results and reasonable speculations, knowledge about the role of purinergic system in individuals with DM and hypertension remains restricted. Purinergic signaling accounts for a complex network of receptors and extracellular enzymes responsible for the recognition and degradation of extracellular nucleotides and adenosine. The main components of this system that will be presented in this review are: P1 and P2 receptors and the enzymatic cascade composed by CD39 (NTPDase; with ATP and ADP as a substrate), CD73 (5′-nucleotidase; with AMP as a substrate), and adenosine deaminase (ADA; with adenosine as a substrate). The purinergic system has recently emerged as a central player in several physiopathological conditions, particularly those linked to inflammatory responses such as diabetes and hypertension. Therefore, the present review focuses on changes in both purinergic P1 and P2 receptor expression as well as the activities of CD39, CD73, and ADA in diabetes and hypertension conditions. It can be postulated that the manipulation of the purinergic axis at different levels can prevent or exacerbate the insurgency and evolution of diabetes and hypertension working as a compensatory mechanism.

Use of knockout mice to explore CNS effects of adenosine

The initial exploration using pharmacological tools of the role of adenosine receptors in the brain, concluded that adenosine released as such acted on A₁R to inhibit excitability and glutamate release from principal neurons throughout the brain and that adenosine A_2A receptors (A_2AR) were striatal-'specific' receptors controlling dopamine D₂R. This indicted A₁R as potential controllers of neurodegeneration and A_2AR of psychiatric conditions. Global knockout of these two receptors questioned the key role of A₁R and instead identified extra-striatal A_2AR as robust controllers of neurodegeneration. Furthermore, transgenic lines with altered metabolic sources of adenosine revealed a coupling of ATP-derived adenosine to activate A_2AR and a role of A₁R as a hurdle to initiate neurodegeneration. Additionally, cell-selective knockout of A_2AR unveiled the different roles of A_2AR in different cell types (neurons/astrocytes) in different portions of the striatal circuits (dorsal versus lateral) and in different brain areas (hippocampus/striatum). Finally, a new transgenic mouse line with deletion of all adenosine receptors seems to indicate a major allostatic rather than homeostatic role of adenosine and may allow isolating P2R-mediated responses to unravel their role in the brain, a goal close to heart of Geoffrey Burnstock, to whom we affectionately dedicate this review.

Antinociceptive and neurochemical effects of a single dose of IB-MECA in chronic pain rat models

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a single administration of IB-MECA, an A3 adenosine receptor agonist, upon the nociceptive response and central biomarkers of rats submitted to chronic pain models. A total of 136 adult male Wistar rats were divided into two protocols: (1) chronic inflammatory pain (CIP) using complete Freund's adjuvant and (2) neuropathic pain (NP) by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. Thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia was measured using von Frey (VF), Randal-Selitto (RS), and hot plate (HP) tests. Rats were treated with a single dose of IB-MECA (0.5 μmol/kg i.p.), a vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide-DMSO), or positive control (morphine, 5 mg/kg i.p.). Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were measured in the brainstem and spinal cord using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The establishment of the chronic pain (CIP or NP) model was observed 14 days after induction by a decreased nociceptive threshold in all three tests (GEE, P < 0.05). The antinociceptive effect of a single dose of IB-MECA was observed in both chronic pain models, but this was more effective in NP model. There was an increase in IL-1β levels promoted by CIP. NP model promoted increase in the brainstem BDNF levels, which was reversed by IB-MECA.

Diving into the streams and waves of constitutive and regenerative olfactory neurogenesis: insights from zebrafish

The olfactory system is renowned for its functional and structural plasticity, with both peripheral and central structures displaying persistent neurogenesis throughout life and exhibiting remarkable capacity for regenerative neurogenesis after damage. In general, fish are known for their extensive neurogenic ability, and the zebrafish in particular presents an attractive model to study plasticity and adult neurogenesis in the olfactory system because of its conserved structure, relative simplicity, rapid cell turnover, and preponderance of neurogenic niches. In this review, we present an overview of the anatomy of zebrafish olfactory structures, with a focus on the neurogenic niches in the olfactory epithelium, olfactory bulb, and ventral telencephalon. Constitutive and regenerative neurogenesis in both the peripheral olfactory organ and central olfactory bulb of zebrafish is reviewed in detail, and a summary of current knowledge about the cellular origin and molecular signals involved in regulating these processes is presented. While some features of physiologic and injury-induced neurogenic responses are similar, there are differences that indicate that regeneration is not simply a reiteration of the constitutive proliferation process. We provide comparisons to mammalian neurogenesis that reveal similarities and differences between species. Finally, we present a number of open questions that remain to be answered.

Purinergic Receptors in Basal Ganglia Diseases: Shared Molecular Mechanisms between Huntington's and Parkinson's Disease

Huntington's (HD) and Parkinson's diseases (PD) are neurodegenerative disorders caused by the death of GABAergic and dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia leading to hyperkinetic and hypokinetic symptoms, respectively. We review here the participation of purinergic receptors through intracellular Ca2+ signaling in these neurodegenerative diseases. The adenosine A2A receptor stimulates striatopallidal GABAergic neurons, resulting in inhibitory actions on GABAergic neurons of the globus pallidus. A2A and dopamine D2 receptors form functional heteromeric complexes inducing allosteric inhibition, and A2A receptor activation results in motor inhibition. Furthermore, the A2A receptor physically and functionally interacts with glutamate receptors, mainly with the mGlu5 receptor subtype. This interaction facilitates glutamate release, resulting in NMDA glutamate receptor activation and an increase of Ca2+ influx. P2X7 receptor activation also promotes glutamate release and neuronal damage. Thus, modulation of purinergic receptor activity, such as A2A and P2X7 receptors, and subsequent aberrant Ca2+ signaling, might present interesting therapeutic potential for HD and PD.

Neonatal Seizures and Purinergic Signalling

Neonatal seizures are one of the most common comorbidities of neonatal encephalopathy, with seizures aggravating acute injury and clinical outcomes. Current treatment can control early life seizures; however, a high level of pharmacoresistance remains among infants, with increasing evidence suggesting current anti-seizure medication potentiating brain damage. This emphasises the need to develop safer therapeutic strategies with a different mechanism of action. The purinergic system, characterised by the use of adenosine triphosphate and its metabolites as signalling molecules, consists of the membrane-bound P1 and P2 purinoreceptors and proteins to modulate extracellular purine nucleotides and nucleoside levels. Targeting this system is proving successful at treating many disorders and diseases of the central nervous system, including epilepsy. Mounting evidence demonstrates that drugs targeting the purinergic system provide both convulsive and anticonvulsive effects. With components of the purinergic signalling system being widely expressed during brain development, emerging evidence suggests that purinergic signalling contributes to neonatal seizures. In this review, we first provide an overview on neonatal seizure pathology and purinergic signalling during brain development. We then describe in detail recent evidence demonstrating a role for purinergic signalling during neonatal seizures and discuss possible purine-based avenues for seizure suppression in neonates.

Purinergic signaling orchestrating neuron-glia communication

This review discusses the evidence supporting a role for ATP signaling (operated by P₂X and P₂Y receptors) and adenosine signaling (mainly operated by A₁ and A_2A receptors) in the crosstalk between neurons, astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes. An initial emphasis will be given to the cooperation between adenosine receptors to sharpen information salience encoding across synapses. The interplay between ATP and adenosine signaling in the communication between astrocytes and neurons will then be presented in context of the integrative properties of the astrocytic syncytium, allowing to implement heterosynaptic depression processes in neuronal networks. The process of microglia 'activation' and its control by astrocytes and neurons will then be analyzed under the perspective of an interplay between different P₂ receptors and adenosine A_2A receptors. In spite of these indications of a prominent role of purinergic signaling in the bidirectional communication between neurons and glia, its therapeutical exploitation still awaits obtaining an integrated view of the spatio-temporal action of ATP signaling and adenosine signaling, clearly distinguishing the involvement of both purinergic signaling systems in the regulation of physiological processes and in the control of pathogenic-like responses upon brain dysfunction or damage.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 upregulates ecto-5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase via MAPK pathways in cultured rat spinal cord astrocytes

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine are neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in the central nervous system. Astrocytes regulate extracellular concentration of purines via ATP release and its metabolisms via ecto-enzymes. The expression and activity of purine metabolic enzymes in astrocytes are increased under pathological conditions. We previously showed that fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) upregulates the expression and activity of the enzymes ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73) and adenosine deaminase (ADA). Here, we further demonstrate that this occurs in concentration- and time-dependent manners in cultured rat spinal cord astrocytes and is suppressed by inhibitors of the FGF receptor as well as the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). We also found that FGF2 increased the phosphorylation of MAPKs, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK, leading to the increased expression and activity of CD73 and ADA. Our findings reveal the involvement of FGF2/MAPK pathways in the regulation of purine metabolic enzymes in astrocytes. These pathways may contribute to the control of extracellular purine concentrations under physiological and pathological conditions.

Purinergic signaling in infectious diseases of the central nervous system

The incidence of infectious diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS) has been increasing over the last several years. Among the reasons for the expansion of these diseases and the appearance of new neuropathogens are globalization, global warming, and the increased proximity between humans and wild animals due to human activities such as deforestation. Neurotropism affecting normal brain function is shared by organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Neuroinfections caused by these agents activate immune responses, inducing neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, and neurodegeneration. Purinergic signaling is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway associated with these neuropathologies. During neuroinfections, host cells release ATP as an extracellular danger signal with pro-inflammatory activities. ATP is metabolized to its derivatives by ectonucleotidases such as CD39 and CD73; ATP and its metabolites modulate neuronal and immune mechanisms through P1 and P2 purinergic receptors that are involved in pathophysiological mechanisms of neuroinfections. In this review we discuss the beneficial or deleterious effects of various components of the purinergic signaling pathway in infectious diseases that affect the CNS, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, bacterial meningitis, sepsis, cryptococcosis, toxoplasmosis, and malaria. We also provide a description of this signaling pathway in emerging viral infections with neurological implications such as Zika and SARS-CoV-2.

The role of inflammation in epileptogenesis

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that has an extensive impact on a patient’s life. Accumulating evidence has suggested that inflammation participates in the progression of spontaneous and recurrent seizures. Pro-convulsant incidences can stimulate immune cells, augment the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, elicit neuronal excitation as well as blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, and finally trigger the generation or recurrence of seizures. Understanding the pathogenic roles of inflammatory mediators, including inflammatory cytokines, cells, and BBB, in epileptogenesis will be beneficial for the treatment of epilepsy. In this systematic review, we performed a literature search on the PubMed database using the following keywords: “epilepsy” or “seizures” or “epileptogenesis”, and “immunity” or “inflammation” or “neuroinflammation” or “damage-associated molecular patterns” or “cytokines” or “chemokines” or “adhesion molecules” or “microglia” or “astrocyte” or “blood-brain barrier”. We summarized the classic inflammatory mediators and their pathogenic effects in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, based on the most recent findings from both human and animal model studies.

The Inhibition of CD39 and CD73 Cell Surface Ectonucleotidases by Small Molecular Inhibitors Enhances the Mobilization of Bone Marrow Residing Stem Cells by Decreasing the Extracellular Level of Adenosine

We have recently demonstrated that purinergic signaling in bone marrow (BM) microenvironment regulates mobilization of hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs), mesenchymal stroma cells (MSCs), endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), and very small embryonic like stem cells (VSELs) into the peripheral blood (PB). While extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) promotes mobilization, its metabolite extracellular adenosine has an opposite effect. Since ATP is processed in extracellular space to adenosine by ectonucleotidases including cell surface expressed CD39 and CD73, we asked if inhibition of these enzymes by employing in vivo small molecular inhibitors ARL67156 and AMPCP of CD39 and CD73 respectively, alone or combined could enhance granulocyte stimulating factor (G-CSF)- and AMD3100-induced pharmacological mobilization of stem cells. Herein we report that pre-treatment of donor mice with CD39 and CD73 inhibitors facilitates the mobilization of HSPCs as well as other types of BM-residing stem cells. This data on one hand supports the role of purinergic signaling in stem cell trafficking, and on the other since both compounds are not toxic against human cells, they could be potentially employed in the clinic to enhance the mobilization of BM residing stem cells for clinical purposes.

Membrane Transporters and Channels in Melanoma

Recent research has revealed that ion channels and transporters can be important players in tumor development, progression, and therapy resistance in melanoma. For example, members of the ABC family were shown to support cancer stemness-like features in melanoma cells, while several members of the TRP channel family were reported to act as tumor suppressors.Also, many transporter proteins support tumor cell viability and thus suppress apoptosis induction by anticancer therapy. Due to the high number of ion channels and transporters and the resulting high complexity of the field, progress in understanding is often focused on single molecules and is in total rather slow. In this review, we aim at giving an overview about a broad subset of ion transporters, also illustrating some aspects of the field, which have not been addressed in detail in melanoma. In context with the other chapters in this special issue on "Transportome Malfunctions in the Cancer Spectrum," a comparison between melanoma and these tumors will be possible.

ATP-Nlrp3 Inflammasome-Complement Cascade Axis in Sterile Brain Inflammation in Psychiatric Patients and its Impact on Stem Cell Trafficking

Recent evidence indicates that the occurrence of psychiatric disorders in patients is linked to a local “sterile” inflammation of brain or due to a systemic inflammation process that affects the central nervous system. This is supported by the observation that in peripheral blood of psychotic patients are detectable several mediators and markers of inflammation as well as clinical data on correlations between systemic chronic inflammatory processes and psychiatric disorders. This may explain why some reported anti-inflammatory treatment strategies have beneficial effects on ameliorating psychotic events. In this review we will present a concept that aberrant purinergic signaling and increases in extracellular level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the brain parenchyma may lead to activation of Nlrp3 inflammasome in microglia cells and as a consequence microglia released danger associated molecular pattern (DAMP) proteins activate complement cascade (ComC) in mannan binding lectin (MBL) – dependent manner. Activation of ATP-Nlrp3 inflammasome-ComC axis may also orchestrate trafficking of stem cells released from bone marrow into peripheral blood observed in psychotic patients. Based on this, the ATP-Nlrp3 inflammasome-ComC axis may become a target for new therapeutic approaches, which justifies the development and clinical application of efficient anti-inflammatory treatment strategies targeting this axis in psychiatry.

The purinergic P2X7 receptor as a potential drug target to combat neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) represent a huge social burden, particularly in Alzheimer's disease (AD) in which all proposed treatments investigated in murine models have failed during clinical trials (CTs). Thus, novel therapeutic strategies remain crucial. Neuroinflammation is a common pathogenic feature of NDDs. As purinergic P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) are gatekeepers of inflammation, they could be developed as drug targets for NDDs. Herein, we review this challenging hypothesis and comment on the numerous studies that have investigated P2X7Rs, emphasizing their molecular structure and functions, as well as their role in inflammation. Then, we elaborate on research undertaken in the field of medicinal chemistry to determine potential P2X7R antagonists. Subsequently, we review the state of neuroinflammation and P2X7R expression in the brain, in animal models and patients suffering from AD, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, and retinal degeneration. Next, we summarize the in vivo studies testing the hypothesis that by mitigating neuroinflammation, P2X7R blockers afford neuroprotection, increasing neuroplasticity and neuronal repair in animal models of NDDs. Finally, we reviewed previous and ongoing CTs investigating compounds directed toward targets associated with NDDs; we propose that CTs with P2X7R antagonists should be initiated. Despite the high expectations for putative P2X7Rs antagonists in various central nervous system diseases, the field is moving forward at a relatively slow pace, presumably due to the complexity of P2X7Rs. A better pharmacological approach to combat NDDs would be a dual strategy, combining P2X7R antagonism with drugs targeting a selective pathway in a given NDD.

The Role of P2X7 Receptor in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive cognitive decline associated with global brain damage. Initially, intracellular paired helical filaments composed by hyperphosphorylated tau and extracellular deposits of amyloid-β (Aβ) were postulated as the causing factors of the synaptic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal death, detected in AD patients. Therefore, the vast majority of clinical trials were focused on targeting Aβ and tau directly, but no effective treatment has been reported so far. Consequently, only palliative treatments are currently available for AD patients. Over recent years, several studies have suggested the involvement of the purinergic receptor P2X7 (P2X7R), a plasma membrane ionotropic ATP-gated receptor, in the AD brain pathology. In this line, altered expression levels and function of P2X7R were found both in AD patients and AD mouse models. Consequently, genetic depletion or pharmacological inhibition of P2X7R ameliorated the hallmarks and symptoms of different AD mouse models. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge about the role of the P2X7R in AD.

P2X7 Receptor is Involved in Mitochondrial Dysfunction Induced by Extracellular Alpha Synuclein in Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells

The purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) belongs to a family of trimeric ion channels that are gated by extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP). Several studies have pointed to a role of P2X7R-dependent signalling in Parkinson's disease (PD)-related neurodegeneration. The pathology of (PD) is characterized by the formation of insoluble alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates—Lewy bodies, but the mechanisms underlying α-Syn-induced dopaminergic cell death are still partially unclear. Our previous studies indicate that extracellular α-Syn directly interact with neuronal P2X7R and induces intracellular free calcium mobilization in neuronal cells. The main objective of this study was to examine the involvement of P2X7R receptor in α-Syn-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. We found that P2X7R stimulation is responsible for α-Syn-induced oxidative stress and activation of the molecular pathways of programmed cell death. Exogenous α-Syn treatment led to P2X7R-dependent decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential as well as elevation of mitochondrial ROS production resulting in breakdown of cellular energy production. Moreover, P2X7R-dependent deregulation of AMP-activated protein kinase as well as decrease in parkin protein level could be responsible for α-Syn-induced mitophagy impairment and accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria. P2X7R might be putative pharmacological targets in molecular mechanism of extracellular α-Syn toxicity.

Innate immunity orchestrates the mobilization and homing of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells by engaging purinergic signaling-an update

Bone marrow (BM) as an active hematopoietic organ is highly sensitive to changes in body microenvironments and responds to external physical stimuli from the surrounding environment. In particular, BM tissue responds to several cues related to infections, strenuous exercise, tissue/organ damage, circadian rhythms, and physical challenges such as irradiation. These multiple stimuli affect BM cells to a large degree through a coordinated response of the innate immunity network as an important guardian for maintaining homeostasis of the body. In this review, we will foc++us on the role of purinergic signaling and innate immunity in the trafficking of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) during their egression from the BM into peripheral blood (PB), as seen along pharmacological mobilization, and in the process of homing and subsequent engraftment into BM after hematopoietic transplantation. Innate immunity mediates these processes by engaging, in addition to certain peptide-based factors, other important non-peptide mediators, including bioactive phosphosphingolipids and extracellular nucleotides, as the main topic of this review. Elucidation of these mechanisms will allow development of more efficient stem cell mobilization protocols to harvest the required number of HSPCs for transplantation and to accelerate hematopoietic reconstitution in transplanted patients.

Adenosinergic System Involvement in Ischemic Stroke Patients' Lymphocytes

Adenosine modulates many physiological processes through the interaction with adenosine receptors (ARs) named as A₁, A_2A, A_2B, and A₃ARs. During ischemic stroke, adenosine mediates neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects through ARs activation. One of the dominant pathways generating extracellular adenosine involves the dephosphorylation of ATP by ecto-nucleotidases CD39 and CD73, which efficiently hydrolyze extracellular ATP to adenosine. The aim of the study is to assess the presence of ARs in lymphocytes from ischemic stroke patients compared to healthy subjects and to analyze changes in CD39 and CD73 expression in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes. Saturation binding experiments revealed that A_2AARs affinity and density were significantly increased in ischemic stroke patients whilst no differences were found in A₁, A_2B, and A₃ARs. These results were also confirmed in reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays where A_2AAR mRNA levels of ischemic stroke patients were higher than in control subjects. In flow cytometry experiments, the percentage of CD73⁺ cells was significantly decreased in lymphocytes and in T-lymphocyte subclasses CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ obtained from ischemic stroke patients in comparison with healthy individuals. These data corroborate the importance of the adenosinergic system in ischemic stroke and could open the way to more targeted therapeutic approaches and biomarker development for ischemic stroke.

Regulatory function of praja ring finger ubiquitin ligase 2 mediated by the P2rx3/P2rx7 axis in mouse hippocampal neuronal cells

Praja2 (Pja2), a member of the growing family of mammalian RING E3 ubiquitin ligases, is reportedly involved in not only several types of cancer but also neurological diseases and disorders, but the genetic mechanism underlying the regulation of Pja2 in the nervous system remains unclear. To study the cellular and molecular functions of Pja2 in mouse hippocampal neuronal cells (MHNCs), we used gain- and loss-of-function manipulations of Pja2 in HT-22 cells and tested their regulatory effects on three Alzheimer's disease (AD) genes and cell proliferation. The results revealed that the expression of AD markers, including amyloid beta precursor protein (App), microtubule-associated protein tau (Mapt), and gamma-secretase activating protein (Gsap), could be inhibited by Pja2 overexpression and activated by Pja2 knockdown. In addition, HT-22 cell proliferation was enhanced by Pja2 upregulation and suppressed by its downregulation. We also evaluated and quantified the targets that responded to the enforced expression of Pja2 by RNA-Seq, and the results showed that purinergic receptor P2X, ligand-gated ion channel 3 and 7 (P2rx3 and P2rx7), which show different expression patterns in the critical calcium signaling pathway, mediated the regulatory effect of Pja2 in HT-22 cells. Functional studies indicated that Pja2 regulated HT-22 cells development and AD marker genes by inhibiting P2rx3 but promoting P2rx7, a gene downstream of P2rx3. In conclusion, our results provide new insights into the regulatory function of the Pja2 gene in MHNCs and thus underscore the potential relevance of this molecule to the pathophysiology of AD.

Perspective: Cell danger response Biology-The new science that connects environmental health with mitochondria and the rising tide of chronic illness

This paper is written for non-specialists in mitochondrial biology to provide access to an important area of science that has broad implications for all people. The cell danger response (CDR) is a universal response to environmental threat or injury. Once triggered, healing cannot be completed until the choreographed stages of the CDR are returned to an updated state of readiness. Although the CDR is a cellular response, it has the power to change human thought and behavior, child development, physical fitness and resilience, fertility, and the susceptibility of entire populations to disease. Mitochondria regulate the CDR by monitoring and responding to the physical, chemical, and microbial conditions within and around the cell. In this way, mitochondria connect cellular health to environmental health. Over 7,000 chemicals are now made or imported to the US for industrial, agricultural, and personal care use in amounts ranging from 25,000 to over 1 million pounds each year, and plastic waste now exceeds 83 billion pounds/year. This chemical load creates a rising tide of manmade pollutants in the oceans, air, water, and food chain. Fewer than 5% of these chemicals have been tested for developmental toxicity. In the 1980s, 5-10% of children lived with a chronic illness. As of 2018, 40% of children, 50% of teens, 60% of adults under age 65, and 90% of adults over 65 live with a chronic illness. Several studies now report the presence of dozens to hundreds of manmade chemicals and pollutants in placenta, umbilical cord blood, and newborn blood spots. New methods in metabolomics and exposomics allow scientists to measure thousands of chemicals in blood, air, water, soil, and the food chain. Systematic measurements of environmental chemicals can now be correlated with annual and regional patterns of childhood illness. These data can be used to prepare a prioritized list of molecules for congressional action, ranked according to their impact on human health.

Combination Therapy With Hyperbaric Oxygen and Erythropoietin Inhibits Neuronal Apoptosis and Improves Recovery in Rats With Spinal Cord Injury

BACKGROUND

Apoptosis plays an important role in various diseases, including spinal cord injury (SCI). Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and erythropoietin (EPO) promote the recovery from SCI, but the relationship between apoptosis and the combination therapeutic effect is not completely clear.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of HBO and EPO on SCI and the mechanisms that underlie their therapeutic benefits.

DESIGN

The study was designed to explore the effects of HBO and EPO on SCI through a randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Sixty young developing female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into groups of 12 rats receiving sham, SCI, HBO, EPO, or HBO plus EPO. The SCI model was modified with the Allen method to better control consistency. HBO was performed for 1 hour per day for a total of 21 days, and EPO was given once per week for a total of 3 weeks. Both methods were performed 2 hours after SCI. Locomotor function was evaluated with the 21-point Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Scale, an inclined-plane test, and a footprint analysis. All genes were detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The level of cell apoptosis was determined by Hoechst staining.

RESULTS

The results showed that HBO and EPO promoted the recovery of locomotor function in the hind limbs of rats by inhibiting the apoptosis of neurons. During this period, the expression of B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 protein (Bcl-2) increased significantly, whereas the expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and cleaved caspase 3 decreased significantly, indicating the inhibition of apoptosis. Meanwhile, the expression of G protein-coupled receptor 17 decreased, and that of myelin basic protein increased, suggesting that there may be a potential connection between demyelination and neuronal apoptosis.

LIMITATIONS

The limitations of the study include deviations in the preparation of SCI models; lack of reverse validation of molecular mechanisms; absence of in vitro cell experiments; and only one time point after SCI was studied.

CONCLUSIONS

HBO and EPO treatments are beneficial for SCI, especially when the 2 therapies are combined.

Purinergic Signalling in Parkinson's Disease: A Multi-target System to Combat Neurodegeneration

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons that results in characteristic motor and non-motor symptoms. L-3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is the gold standard therapy for the treatment of PD. However, long-term use of L-DOPA leads to side effects such as dyskinesias and motor fluctuation. Since purines have neurotransmitter and co-transmitter properties, the function of the purinergic system has been thoroughly studied in the nervous system. Adenosine and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) are modulators of dopaminergic neurotransmission, neuroinflammatory processes, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity and cell death via purinergic receptor subtypes. Aberrant purinergic receptor signalling can be either the cause or the result of numerous pathological conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders. Many data confirm the involvement of purinergic signalling pathways in PD. Modulation of purinergic receptor subtypes, the activity of ectonucleotidases and ATP transporters could be beneficial in the treatment of PD. We give a brief summary of the background of purinergic signalling focusing on its roles in PD. Possible targets for pharmacological treatment are highlighted.

Estrogen receptors modulate ectonucleotidases activity in hippocampal synaptosomes of male rats

Extracellular adenine nucleotides and nucleosides, such as adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine, are among least investigated signaling factors that participate in 17β-estradiol (E2)-mediated synaptic rearrangements in rodent hippocampus. Their levels in the extrasynaptic space are tightly controlled by ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases1-3 (NTPDase1-3)/ecto-5'-nucleotidase (eN) enzyme chain. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to get closer insight in the E2-induced decrease in NTPDase and eN activity in the hippocampal synaptic compartment of male rats and to identify estradiol receptors (ERs i.e. ERα, ERβ or GPER1) responsible for the observed effects of E2. In this study we show indiscriminate participation of estradiol receptor α (ERα), -β (ERβ) and G- protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) in the mediation of E2 actions in hippocampal synaptosomes of male rats. Synaptic NTPDase1-3 activities are modulated only through activation of ERβ, while activation of ERα, -β and/or non-classical GPER1 decreases synaptic eN activity. Since both ATP and adenosine function as neuromodulators in the hippocampal networks, influencing its function, profound knowledge of mechanisms by which ectonucleotidases are regulated/modulated is of great importance.

Microglia in Alzheimer Disease: Well-Known Targets and New Opportunities

Microglia are the resident macrophages of the central nervous system. They play key roles in brain development, and physiology during life and aging. Equipped with a variety of molecular sensors and through the various functions they can fulfill, they are critically involved in maintaining the brain’s homeostasis. In Alzheimer disease (AD), microglia reaction was initially thought to be incidental and triggered by amyloid deposits and dystrophic neurites. However, recent genome-wide association studies have established that the majority of AD risk loci are found in or near genes that are highly and sometimes uniquely expressed in microglia. This leads to the concept of microglia being critically involved in the early steps of the disease and identified them as important potential therapeutic targets. Whether microglia reaction is beneficial, detrimental or both to AD progression is still unclear and the subject of intense debate. In this review, we are presenting a state-of-knowledge report intended to highlight the variety of microglial functions and pathways shown to be critically involved in AD progression. We first address both the acquisition of new functions and the alteration of their homeostatic roles by reactive microglia. Second, we propose a summary of new important parameters currently emerging in the field that need to be considered to identify relevant microglial targets. Finally, we discuss the many obstacles in designing efficient therapeutic strategies for AD and present innovative technologies that may foster our understanding of microglia roles in the pathology. Ultimately, this work aims to fly over various microglial functions to make a general and reliable report of the current knowledge regarding microglia’s involvement in AD and of the new research opportunities in the field.

Enteric glial cells immunoreactive for P2X7 receptor are affected in the ileum following ischemia and reperfusion

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of ischemia and reperfusion injury (IS) on enteric glial cells (EGCs) and neurons immunoreactive for the P2X7 receptor. Intestinal ischemia was induced by obstructing blood flow in the ileal vessels for 35 min. Afterwards, the vessels were reperfused for 14 days. Tissues were prepared for immunohistochemical labeling of P2X7 receptor, HuC/D (Hu) (pan-neuronal marker) and S100β (glial marker); HuC/D (Hu) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, glial marker)/DAPI (nuclear marker); or S100β and GFAP/DAPI. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of colocalization, density, profile area and cell proliferation were performed via fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The quantitative analyses revealed that a) neurons and EGCs were immunoreactive for P2X7 receptor; b) the P2X7 receptor immunoreactive cells and Hu immunoreactive neurons were reduced after 0 h and 14 days of reperfusion; c) the S100β and GFAP immunoreactive EGCs were increased; d) the profile area of S100β immunoreactive EGCs was increased by IS; e) few GFAP immunoreactive proliferated at 14 days of reperfusion; f) distinct populations of glial cells can be discerned: S100β⁺/GFAP⁺ cells, S100β⁺/GFAP^- cells and S100β^-/GFAP ⁺ cells; g) histological analysis revealed less alterations in the epithelium cells in the IS groups and h) myeloperoxidase reaction revealed increased of the neutrophils in the lamina propria in the IS groups. This study showed that IS is associated with significant neuronal loss, increase of glial cells and altered purinergic receptor expression and that these changes may contribute to intestinal disorders.

Blockage of the P2X7 Receptor Attenuates Harmful Changes Produced by Ischemia and Reperfusion in the Myenteric Plexus

INTRODUCTION

Our work analyzed the effects of a P2X7 receptor antagonist, Brilliant Blue G (BBG), on rat ileum myenteric plexus following ischemia and reperfusion (ISR) induced by 45 min of ileal artery occlusion with an atraumatic vascular clamp with 24 h (ISR 24-h group) or 14 d of reperfusion (ISR 14-d group).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Either BBG (50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg, BBG50 or BBG100 groups) or saline (vehicle) was administered subcutaneously 1 h after ischemia in the ISR 24-h group or once daily for the 5 d after ischemia in the ISR 14-d group (n = 5 per group). We evaluated the neuronal density and profile area by examining the number of neutrophils in the intestinal layers, protein expression levels of the P2X7 receptor, intestinal motility and immunoreactivity for the P2X7 receptor, nitric oxide synthase, neurofilament-200, and choline acetyl transferase in myenteric neurons.

RESULTS

The neuronal density and profile area were restored by BBG following ISR. The ischemic groups showed alterations in P2X7 receptor protein expression and the number of neutrophils in the intestine and decreased intestinal motility, all of which were recovered by BBG treatment.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that ISR morphologically and functionally affected the intestine and that its effects were reversed by BBG treatment, suggesting the P2X7 receptor as a therapeutic target.

Metabolomics-driven identification of adenosine deaminase as therapeutic target in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Neuroinflammation is one of the driving forces of progressive neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). The metabolomics approach has been proved highly useful in identifying potential therapeutic targets. Here, to identify inflammation-relevant treatment targets for PD, mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics was applied to characterize metabolic changes in the striatum of mice with double-hit PD induced by lipopolysaccharide plus 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Seven days after the final MPTP administration, metabolites from the purine metabolism pathway, including adenosine, 1-methyladenosine, adenine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, xanthosine, and guanosine, were found to be significantly dysregulated. The metabolite-protein interaction network and changes in the concentration ratio of these metabolites indicated that adenosine and adenosine deaminase (ADA; EC 3.5.4.4) were the most promising therapeutic targets and adenosine augmentation might be a rational approach to slow PD progression. These findings were then verified in a subacute MPTP-induced PD mouse model treated with ADA inhibition alone or in conjunction with antagonism of adenosine A_2A receptors (A_2A R). Behavioral, biochemical, and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that ADA inhibition significantly ameliorated the MPTP-mediated motor disabilities, dopamine depletion, and dopaminergic cell death. Significantly enhanced neuroprotective effects were further observed when the ADA inhibitor was utilized in conjunction with an A_2A R antagonist. Together, our study indicated for the first time that ADA inhibitors protected against neurodegeneration induced by the neurotoxin MPTP, and ADA inhibitors in combination with A_2A R antagonists showed additive antiparkinsonian effects.

The Nlrp3 Inflammasome Orchestrates Mobilization of Bone Marrow-Residing Stem Cells into Peripheral Blood

Mobilization of stem cells from bone marrow (BM) into peripheral blood (PB) in response to tissue or organ injury, infections, strenuous exercise, or mobilization-inducing drugs is as we postulated result of a "sterile inflammation" in the BM microenvironment that triggers activation of the Complement Cascade (ComC). Therefore, we became interested in the role of the Nlrp3 inflammasome in this process and show for the first time that its activation in ATP-dependent manner orchestrates BM egress of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) as well as other stem cells, including mesenchymal stroma cells (MSCs), endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), and very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs). To explain this extracellular ATP is a potent activator of the Nrlp3 inflammasome, which leads to the release of interleukin 1β and interleukin 18, as well as several danger-associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs) that activate the mannan-binding lectin (MBL) pathway of the ComC, from cells of the innate immunity network. In support of this mechanism, we demonstrate that the Nlrp3 inflammasome become activated in innate immunity cells by granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and AMD3100 in an ATP-dependent manner. Moreover, administration of the Nlrp3 inflammasome activator nigericin induces mobilization in mice, and the opposite effect is obtained by administration of an Nlrp3 inhibitor (MCC950) to mice mobilized by G-CSF or AMD3100. In summary, our results further support the crucial role of innate immunity, BM sterile inflammation, and novel role of the ATP-Nlrp3-ComC axis in the egress of stem cells into PB.

Purinergic receptor expression and function in rat vagal sensory neurons innervating the stomach

The nodose ganglion (NG) is the main parasympathetic ganglion conveying sensory signals to the CNS from numerous visceral organs including digestive signals such as gastric distension or the release the gastrointestinal peptides. The response characteristics of NG neurons to ATP and ADP and pharmacological interrogation of purinergic receptor subtypes have been previously investigated but often in NG cells of undetermined visceral origin. In this study, we confirmed the presence of P2X3 and P2Y1 receptors and characterized P2X and P2Y responses in gastric-innervating NG neurons. Application of ATP-evoked large inward currents and cytosolic Ca²⁺ increases in gastric-innervating NG neurons. Despite the expression of P2Y1 receptors, ADP elicited only minor modulation of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels. Considering the sensitivity of NG neurons to comorbidities associated with disease or neural injury, purinergic modulation of gastric NG neurons in disease- or injury-states is worthy of further investigation.

HIV-1 Tat enhances purinergic P2Y4 receptor signaling to mediate inflammatory cytokine production and neuronal damage via PI3K/Akt and ERK MAPK pathways

BACKGROUND

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs) afflict more than half of HIV-1-positive individuals. The transactivator of transcription (Tat) produced by HIV virus elicits inflammatory process and is a major neurotoxic mediator that induce neuron damage during HAND pathogenesis. Activated astrocytes are important cells involved in neuroinflammation and neuronal damage. Purinergic receptors expressed in astrocytes participate in a positive feedback loop in virus-induced neurotoxicity. Here, we investigated that whether P2Y4R, a P2Y receptor subtype, that expressed in astrocyte participates in Tat-induced neuronal death in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Soluble Tat protein was performed to determine the expression of P2Y4R and proinflammatory cytokines in astrocytes using siRNA technique via real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence assays. Cytometric bead array was used to measure proinflammatory cytokine release. The TUNEL staining and MTT cell viability assay were analyzed for HT22 cell apoptosis and viability, and the ApopTag® peroxidase in situ apoptosis detection kit and cresyl violet staining for apoptosis and death of hippocampal neuron in vivo.

RESULTS

We found that Tat challenge increased the expression of P2Y4R in astrocytes. P2Y4R signaling in astrocytes was involved in Tat-induced inflammatory cytokine production via PI3K/Akt- and ERK1/2-dependent pathways. Knockdown of P2Y4R expression significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine production and relieved Tat-mediated neuronal apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo challenged with Tat, P2Y4R knockdown mice showed decreased inflammation and neuronal damage, especially in hippocampal CA1 region.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data provide novel insights into astrocyte-mediated neuron damage during HIV-1 infection and suggest a potential therapeutic target for HANDs.

Caffeine modulates brain purinergic signaling in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under hypoxia conditions: improvement of immune and inflammatory responses

Purinergic signaling is linked to neurodegenerative and proinflammatory damage during pathological conditions such as hypoxia, but involvement of this pathway in brain damage in fish exposed to environmental hypoxia remains unknown, and we propose dietary supplementation with caffeine in order to improve the immune response. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate whether the enzymatic purinergic signaling pathway is associated with inflammatory brain damage in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to environmental hypoxia and whether dietary supplementation with caffeine (5% and 8%) can prevent these changes in purinergic signaling. Animals were randomly divided into six groups (A-F, n = 6 per group, in triplicate), as follows: groups A-C were submitted to normoxia, while groups D-F were submitted to hypoxia. Groups A and D received the basal diet, while groups B and D and groups C and F received a diet containing 5% and 8% caffeine, respectively, and fed with their respective diets for 21 days. After 21 days, aeration was disconnected (groups D-F) and the dissolved oxygen levels were maintained as follows: group A (6.55 ± 0.23 mg/L), group B (6.51 ± 0.24 mg/L), group C (6.58 ± 0.22 mg/L), group D (1.23 ± 0.11 mg/L), group E (1.20 ± 0.15 mg/L), and group F (1.18 ± 0.13 mg/L). Cerebral triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase) using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a substrate and 5'-nucleotidase activities decreased in fish exposed to 72 h of hypoxia compared with the normoxia group, while adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity and levels of nitric oxide (NO_x) metabolites were higher. Dietary supplementation with 5% and 8% caffeine prevented all alterations elicited by hypoxia, with the exception of ADA activity in the case of 5% caffeine. Based on this evidence, our findings reveal that nucleotide/nucleoside hydrolysis is modified in the brains of fish exposed to 72 h of hypoxia, contributing to inflammatory damage, which apparently is mediated by excessive ATP content in the extracellular medium and by excessive NO_x production. Also, the use of a diet containing 5% and 8% caffeine prevented these alterations (except 5% of dietary caffeine on ADA activity) and can be considered an interesting approach to preventing the impairment of immune and inflammatory responses elicited by hypoxia, principally the inclusion of 8% caffeine.

NLRP3 inflammasome couples purinergic signaling with activation of the complement cascade for the optimal release of cells from bone marrow

The mechanisms that regulate egress of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) into peripheral blood (PB) in response to stress, inflammation, tissue/organ injury, or administration of mobilization-inducing drugs are still not well understood, and because of the importance of stem cell trafficking in maintaining organism homeostasis, several complementary pathways are believed to be involved. Our group proposes that mobilization of HSPCs is mainly a result of sterile inflammation in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment in response to pro-mobilizing stimuli and that during the initiation phase of the mobilization process BM-residing cells belonging to the innate immunity system, including granulocytes and monocytes, release danger-associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs, also known as alarmins), reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes. These factors together orchestrate the release of HSPCs into PB. One of the most important DAMPs released in the initiation phase of mobilization is extracellular adenosine triphosphate, a potent activator of the inflammasome. As a result of its activation, IL-1β and IL-18 as well as other pro-mobilizing mediators, including DAMPs such as high molecular group box 1 (Hmgb1) and S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100a9), are released. These DAMPs are important activators of the complement cascade (ComC) in the mannan-binding lectin (MBL)-dependent pathway. Specifically, Hmgb1 and S100a9 bind to MBL, which leads to activation of MBL-associated proteases, which activate the ComC and in parallel also trigger activation of the coagulation cascade (CoaC). In this review, we will highlight the novel role of the innate immunity cell-expressed NLRP3 inflammasome, which, during the initiation phase of HSPC mobilization, couples purinergic signaling with the MBL-dependent pathway of the ComC and, in parallel, the CoaC for optimal release of HSPCs. These data are important to optimize the pharmacological mobilization of HSPCs.

Role of P2 receptors in normal brain development and in neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders

The purinergic signaling system, including P2 receptors, plays an important role in various central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Over the last few decades, a substantial amount of accumulated data suggest that most P2 receptor subtypes (P2X1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7, and P2Y₁, ₂, ₆, ₁₂, and ₁₃) regulate neuronal/neuroglial developmental processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, migration of neuronal precursors, and neurite outgrowth. However, only a few of these subtypes (P2X2, P2X3, P2X4, P2X7, P2Y₁, and P2Y₂) have been investigated in the context of neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders. The activation of these potential target receptors and their underlying mechanisms mainly influence the process of neuroinflammation. In particular, P2 receptor-mediated inflammatory cytokine release has been indicated to contribute to the complex mechanisms of a variety of CNS disorders. The released inflammatory cytokines could be utilized as biomarkers for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders to improve the early diagnosis intervention, and prognosis. The population changes in gut microbiota after birth are closely linked to neurodevelopmental/neuropsychiatric disorders in later life; thus, the dynamic expression and function of P2 receptors on gut epithelial cells during disease processes indicate a novel avenue for the evaluation of disease progression and for the discovery of related therapeutic compounds.

Neuroprotective effects of berberine on recognition memory impairment, oxidative stress, and damage to the purinergic system in rats submitted to intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease. The present study investigated the effects of 50 and 100 mg/kg berberine (BRB) on recognition memory, oxidative stress, and purinergic neurotransmission, in a model of sporadic dementia of the Alzheimer's type induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. Rats were submitted to ICV-STZ 3 mg/kg or saline, and 3 days later, were started on a treatment of BRB or saline for 21 days. The results demonstrated that BRB was effective in protecting against memory impairment, increased reactive oxygen species, and the subsequent increase in protein and lipid oxidation in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase inhibition in the cerebral cortex. Moreover, the decrease in total thiols, and the reduced glutathione and glutathione S-transferase activity in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of ICV-STZ rats, was prevented by BRB treatment. Besides an antioxidant effect, BRB treatment was capable of preventing decreases in ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase), 5'-nucleotidase (EC-5'-Nt), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities in synaptosomes of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Thus, our data suggest that BRB exerts a neuroprotective effect on recognition memory, as well as on oxidative stress and oxidative stress-related damage, such as dysfunction of the purinergic system. This suggests that BRB may act as a promising multipotent agent for the treatment of AD.

ATP release during seizures - A critical evaluation of the evidence

That adenosine 5' triphosphate (ATP) functions as an extracellular signaling molecule has been established since the 1970s. Ubiquitous throughout the body as the principal molecular store of intracellular energy, ATP has a short extracellular half-life and is difficult to measure directly. Extracellular ATP concentrations are dependent both on the rate of cellular release and of enzymatic degradation. Some findings from in vitro studies suggest that extracellular ATP concentrations increase during high levels of neuronal activity and seizure-like events in hippocampal slices. Pharmacological studies suggest that antagonism of ATP-sensitive purinergic receptors can suppress the severity of seizures and block epileptogenesis. Directly measuring extracellular ATP concentrations in the brain, however, has a number of specific challenges, notably, the rapid hydrolysis of ATP and huge gradient between intracellular and extracellular compartments. Two studies using microdialysis found no change in extracellular ATP in the hippocampus of rats during experimentally-induced status epilepticus. One of which demonstrated that ATP increased measurably, only in the presence of ectoATPase inhibitors, with the other study demonstrating increases only during later spontaneous seizures. Current evidence is mixed and seems highly dependent on the model used and method of detection. More sensitive methods of detection with higher spatial resolution, which induce less tissue disruption will be necessary to provide evidence for or against the hypothesis of seizure-induced elevations in extracellular ATP. Here we describe the current hypothesis for ATP release during seizures and its role in epileptogenesis, describe the technical challenges involved and critically examine the current evidence.

Is Adenosine Action Common Ground for NREM Sleep, Torpor, and Other Hypometabolic States?

This review compares two states that lower energy expenditure: non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and torpor. Knowledge on mechanisms common to these states, and particularly on the role of adenosine in NREM sleep, may ultimately open the possibility of inducing a synthetic torpor-like state in humans for medical applications and long-term space travel. To achieve this goal, it will be important, in perspective, to extend the study to other hypometabolic states, which, unlike torpor, can also be experienced by humans.

A Mutation in the Mitochondrial Aspartate/Glutamate Carrier Leads to a More Oxidizing Intramitochondrial Environment and an Inflammatory Myopathy in Dutch Shepherd Dogs

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory myopathies are characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells into muscle. Typically, immune-mediated disorders such as polymyositis, dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis are diagnosed.

OBJECTIVE

A small family of dogs with early onset muscle weakness and inflammatory muscle biopsies were investigated for an underlying genetic cause.

METHODS

Following the histopathological diagnosis of inflammatory myopathy, mutational analysis including whole genome sequencing, functional transport studies of the mutated and wild-type proteins, and metabolomic analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Whole genome resequencing identified a pathological variant in the SLC25A12 gene, resulting in a leucine to proline substitution at amino acid 349 in the mitochondrial aspartate-glutamate transporter known as the neuron and muscle specific aspartate glutamate carrier 1 (AGC1). Functionally reconstituting recombinant wild-type and mutant AGC1 into liposomes demonstrated a dramatic decrease in AGC1 transport activity and inability to transfer reducing equivalents from the cytosol into mitochondria. Targeted, broad-spectrum metabolomic analysis from affected and control muscles demonstrated a proinflammatory milieu and strong support for oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the first description of a metabolic mechanism in which ablated mitochondrial glutamate transport markedly reduced the import of reducing equivalents into mitochondria and produced a highly oxidizing and proinflammatory muscle environment and an inflammatory myopathy.

P2X7 receptor signaling during adult hippocampal neurogenesis

Neurogenesis is a persistent and essential feature of the adult mammalian hippocampus. Granular neurons generated from resident pools of stem or progenitor cells provide a mechanism for the formation and consolidation of new memories. Regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis is complex and multifaceted, and numerous signaling pathways converge to modulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, and clearance of cellular debris, as well as synaptic integration of newborn immature neurons. The expression of functional P2X7 receptors in the central nervous system has attracted much interest and the regulatory role of this purinergic receptor during adult neurogenesis has only recently begun to be explored. P2X7 receptors are exceptionally versatile: in their canonical role they act as adenosine triphosphate-gated calcium channels and facilitate calcium-signaling cascades exerting control over the cell via calcium-encoded sensory proteins and transcription factor activation. P2X7 also mediates transmembrane pore formation to regulate cytokine release and facilitate extracellular communication, and when persistently stimulated by high extracellular adenosine triphosphate levels large P2X7 pores form, which induce apoptotic cell death through cytosolic ion dysregulation. Lastly, as a scavenger receptor P2X7 directly facilitates phagocytosis of the cellular debris that arises during neurogenesis, as well as during some disease states. Understanding how P2X7 receptors regulate the physiology of stem and progenitor cells in the adult hippocampus is an important step towards developing useful therapeutic models for regenerative medicine. This review considers the relevant aspects of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and explores how P2X7 receptor activity may influence the molecular physiology of the hippocampus, and neural stem and progenitor cells.

Natural compounds acting at P2 receptors alleviate peripheral neuropathy

Neuropathic pain is generally resistant to currently available treatments, and it is often a consequence of nerve injury due to surgery, diabetes or infection. Myocardial ischemic nociceptive signaling increases the sympathoexcitatory reflex to aggravate myocardial injury. Elucidation of the pathogenetic factors might provide a target for optimal treatment. Abundant evidence in the literature suggests that P2X and P2Y receptors play important roles in signal transmission. Traditional Chinese medicines, such as emodin, puerarin and resveratrol, antagonize nociceptive transmission mediated by purinergic 2 (P2) receptors in primary afferent neurons. This review summarizes recently published data on P2 receptor-mediated neuropathic pain and myocardial ischemia in dorsal root ganglia (DRG), superior cervical ganglia (SCG) and stellate ganglia (SG), with a special focus on the beneficial role of natural compounds.

The role of convergent ion channel pathways in microglial phenotypes: a systematic review of the implications for neurological and psychiatric disorders

Increases in the activated state of microglia, the main neuroimmune cells, are widely reported in the brains of patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Microglia transform from the resting to the activated state by sensing their environment, aided by a variety of ion channels. To examine the effect of ion channels on microglial phenotypes, we conducted a systematic review of immunohistochemical analyses of these neuroimmune cells in animal models following administration of ion channel antagonists, compared to control conditions. A systematic search of the PubMed and Web of Science electronic databases using the PRISMA and WHO methodologies for systematic reviews yielded 15 original peer-reviewed studies. The majority (13 out of 15) of these studies reported a decrease in microglial activated state after ion signaling pharmacological blockade. The studies provide evidence that acute administration of ion channel antagonists leads to a reduction in microglial activation in rodent brains in the models for epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, inflammation, pain, ischemia, and brain and spinal cord injury. Future research should explore microglial-specific druggable targets for neurological and psychiatric disorders. The investigation of acute and chronic administration of ion channel antagonists in microglial phenotypes in primates and the development of microglia-like cells derived from human stem cells could be valuable sources in this direction.