Receptor-mediated glutamate release from volume sensitive channels in astrocytes

Anion channels in astrocytes: biophysics, pharmacology, and function

The chloride/anion channels that have been so far identified in cultured astrocytes and those that have been confirmed in situ by a combination of mRNA identification, immunocytochemistry, and biophysical studies are reviewed. It is emphasized that we are just beginning to describe such channels and analyze their functions in astrocytes. The best-studied anion channels studied so far are those known as volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs). These, as for most channels, have been mainly studied in cultured astrocytes, but some correlative studies have been done in situ, because these channels have been emphasized as release routes for transmitters; namely, excitatory amino acids and ATP. They are activated by cell shape changes and cell swelling, and the release of amino acids and ATP and chloride currents, measured by whole cell clamping, by these processes has been well described, as is also their activation by low concentrations of extracellular ATP. However, the identity of these channels in astrocytes, as in all other cells, remains elusive. The potential involvement of VRACs in pathological states such as stroke, metastasis, and spreading depression is also discussed.

Astrocyte calcium elevations: properties, propagation, and effects on brain signaling

The possibility that astrocytes are involved in brain signaling began to emerge in the late 1970s, when it was first shown that astroglia in vitro possess numerous receptors for neurotransmitters. It was later demonstrated that cultured astroglia and astrocytes in situ respond to neurotransmitters with increases in intracellular second messengers, including cyclic AMP and calcium. Astrocyte calcium responses have since been extensively studied both in culture and in intact tissue. We continue to gather information regarding the various compounds able to trigger astrocyte calcium increases, as well as the mechanisms involved in their initiation, propagation as a calcium wave within and between astrocytes, and effects on signaling within the brain. This review will focus on each of these aspects of astrocyte calcium regulation, and attempt to sort out which effects are more likely to occur in developmental, pathological, and physiological conditions. While we have come far in our understanding of the properties or potential of astrocytes' ability to signal to neurons using our array of pharmacological tools, we still understand very little regarding the level of involvement of astrocyte signaling in normal brain physiology.

VRACs CARVe a path for novel mechanisms of communication in the CNS

Because the brain is encased by the skull, the ability to control cell volume in the brain is crucial, and pathological conditions that disturb cell volume homeostasis may severely compromise neural function and survival. Astrocytes are the main cell type to show swelling in response to pathological conditions. More recently, a role for swelling-induced neurotransmitter release from astrocytes under nonpathological conditions has been reported. Astrocytes express a volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) that is involved in volume homeostasis. In addition to transporting chloride, VRACs allow the efflux of chloride and amino acids such as taurine, glutamate, and aspartate. Glutamate and aspartate are potent activators of neuronal glutamate receptors. Therefore, this nonsynaptic form of cellular communication may modulate neuronal excitability and synaptic activity.

Neuronal-glial networks as substrate for CNS integration

Astrocytes have been considered, for a long time, as the support and house-keeping cells of the nervous system. Indeed, the astrocytes play very important metabolic roles in the brain, but the catalogue of nervous system functions or activities that involve directly glial participation has extended dramatically in the last decade. In addition to the further refining of the signalling capacity of the neuroglial networks and the detailed reassessment of the interactions between glia and vascular bed in the brain, one of the important salient features of the increased glioscience activity in the last few years was the morphological and functional demonstration that protoplasmic astrocytes occupy well defined spatial territories, with only limited areas of morphological overlapping, but still able to communicate with adjacent neighbours through intercellular junctions. All these features form the basis for a possible reassessment of the nature of integration of activity in the central nervous system that could raise glia to a role of central integrator.

Astrocytic complexity distinguishes the human brain

One of the most distinguishing features of the adult human brain is the complexity and diversity of its cortical astrocytes. Human protoplasmic astrocytes manifest a threefold larger diameter and have tenfold more primary processes than those of rodents. In all mammals, protoplasmic astrocytes are organized into spatially non-overlapping domains that encompass both neurons and vasculature. Yet unique to humans and primates are additional populations of layer 1 interlaminar astrocytes that extend long (millimeter) fibers, and layer 5-6 polarized astrocytes that also project distinctive long processes. We propose that human cortical evolution has been accompanied by increasing complexity in the form and function of astrocytes, which reflects an expansion of their functional roles in synaptic modulation and cortical circuitry.

Astrocyte control of synaptic transmission and neurovascular coupling

From a structural perspective, the predominant glial cell of the central nervous system, the astrocyte, is positioned to regulate synaptic transmission and neurovascular coupling: the processes of one astrocyte contact tens of thousands of synapses, while other processes of the same cell form endfeet on capillaries and arterioles. The application of subcellular imaging of Ca2+ signaling to astrocytes now provides functional data to support this structural notion. Astrocytes express receptors for many neurotransmitters, and their activation leads to oscillations in internal Ca2+. These oscillations induce the accumulation of arachidonic acid and the release of the chemical transmitters glutamate, d-serine, and ATP. Ca2+ oscillations in astrocytic endfeet can control cerebral microcirculation through the arachidonic acid metabolites prostaglandin E2 and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids that induce arteriole dilation, and 20-HETE that induces arteriole constriction. In addition to actions on the vasculature, the release of chemical transmitters from astrocytes regulates neuronal function. Astrocyte-derived glutamate, which preferentially acts on extrasynaptic receptors, can promote neuronal synchrony, enhance neuronal excitability, and modulate synaptic transmission. Astrocyte-derived d-serine, by acting on the glycine-binding site of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, can modulate synaptic plasticity. Astrocyte-derived ATP, which is hydrolyzed to adenosine in the extracellular space, has inhibitory actions and mediates synaptic cross-talk underlying heterosynaptic depression. Now that we appreciate this range of actions of astrocytic signaling, some of the immediate challenges are to determine how the astrocyte regulates neuronal integration and how both excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory signals (adenosine) provided by the same glial cell act in concert to regulate neuronal function.

P2Y1 receptor-evoked glutamate exocytosis from astrocytes: control by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and prostaglandins

ATP, released by both neurons and glia, is an important mediator of brain intercellular communication. We find that selective activation of purinergic P2Y1 receptors (P2Y1R) in cultured astrocytes triggers glutamate release. By total internal fluorescence reflection imaging of fluorescence-labeled glutamatergic vesicles, we document that such release occurs by regulated exocytosis. The stimulus-secretion coupling mechanism involves Ca2+ release from internal stores and is controlled by additional transductive events mediated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and prostaglandins (PG). P2Y1R activation induces release of both TNFalpha and PGE2 and blocking either one significantly reduces glutamate release. Accordingly, astrocytes from TNFalpha-deficient (TNF(-/-)) or TNF type 1 receptor-deficient (TNFR1(-/-)) mice display altered P2Y1R-dependent Ca2+ signaling and deficient glutamate release. In mixed hippocampal cultures, the P2Y1R-evoked process occurs in astrocytes but not in neurons or microglia. P2Y1R stimulation induces Ca2+ -dependent glutamate release also from acute hippocampal slices. The process in situ displays characteristics resembling those in cultured astrocytes and is distinctly different from synaptic glutamate release evoked by high K+ stimulation as follows: (a) it is sensitive to cyclooxygenase inhibitors; (b) it is deficient in preparations from TNF(-/-) and TNFR1(-/-) mice; and (c) it is inhibited by the exocytosis blocker bafilomycin A1 with a different time course. No glutamate release is evoked by P2Y1R-dependent stimulation of hippocampal synaptosomes. Taken together, our data identify the coupling of purinergic P2Y1R to glutamate exocytosis and its peculiar TNFalpha- and PG-dependent control, and we strongly suggest that this cascade operates selectively in astrocytes. The identified pathway may play physiological roles in glial-glial and glial-neuronal communication.

The gap junction cellular internet: connexin hemichannels enter the signalling limelight

Cxs (connexins), the protein subunits forming gap junction intercellular communication channels, are transported to the plasma membrane after oligomerizing into hexameric assemblies called connexin hemichannels (CxHcs) or connexons, which dock head-to-head with partner hexameric channels positioned on neighbouring cells. The double membrane channel or gap junction generated directly couples the cytoplasms of interacting cells and underpins the integration and co-ordination of cellular metabolism, signalling and functions, such as secretion or contraction in cell assemblies. In contrast, CxHcs prior to forming gap junctions provide a pathway for the release from cells of ATP, glutamate, NAD+ and prostaglandin E2, which act as paracrine messengers. ATP activates purinergic receptors on neighbouring cells and forms the basis of intercellular Ca2+ signal propagation, complementing that occuring more directly via gap junctions. CxHcs open in response to various types of external changes, including mechanical, shear, ionic and ischaemic stress. In addition, CxHcs are influenced by intracellular signals, such as membrane potential, phosphorylation and redox status, which translate external stresses to CxHc responses. Also, recent studies demonstrate that cytoplasmic Ca2+ changes in the physiological range act to trigger CxHc opening, indicating their involvement under normal non-pathological conditions. CxHcs not only respond to cytoplasmic Ca2+, but also determine cytoplasmic Ca2+, as they are large conductance channels, suggesting a prominent role in cellular Ca2+ homoeostasis and signalling. The functions of gap-junction channels and CxHcs have been difficult to separate, but synthetic peptides that mimic short sequences in the Cx subunit are emerging as promising tools to determine the role of CxHcs in physiology and pathology.

Purinergic transmission in the central nervous system

The adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), discovered in 1929 by Karl Lohman, Cyrus Hartwell Fiske, and Yellagaprada SubbaRow, acts as an important extracellular signaling molecule. In the CNS, ATP can be released from synaptic terminals, either on its own or together with other neurotransmitters. After the release from the presynaptic terminals, ATP binds to a plethora of ionotropic and metabotropic receptors, which mediate its action as an excitatory neurotransmitter. Furthermore, ATP also acts as an important mediator in neuronal-glial communications because glial cells are endowed with numerous ATP receptors, which trigger Ca(2+) signaling events and membrane currents in both macro and microglia. In addition, ATP can be released from astroglial cells, thereby acting as a mediator of glial-glial and glial-neuronal signaling.

Astrocyte dysfunction in neurological disorders: a molecular perspective

Recent work on glial cell physiology has revealed that glial cells, and astrocytes in particular, are much more actively involved in brain information processing than previously thought. This finding has stimulated the view that the active brain should no longer be regarded solely as a network of neuronal contacts, but instead as a circuit of integrated, interactive neurons and glial cells. Consequently, glial cells could also have as yet unexpected roles in the diseased brain. An improved understanding of astrocyte biology and heterogeneity and the involvement of these cells in pathogenesis offers the potential for developing novel strategies to treat neurological disorders.

Neuron-derived D-serine release provides a novel means to activate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors

D-serine is a coagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors that occurs at high levels in the brain. Biosynthesis of D-serine is carried out by serine racemase, which converts L- to D-serine. D-serine has been demonstrated to occur in glial cells, leading to the proposal that astrocytes are the only source of D-serine. We now report significant amounts of serine racemase and D-serine in primary neuronal cultures and neurons in vivo. Several neuronal culture types expressed serine racemase, and D-serine synthesis was comparable with that in glial cultures. Immunohistochemical staining of brain sections with new antibodies revealed the presence of serine racemase and D-serine in neurons. Cortical neurons expressing serine racemase also expressed the NR2a subunit in situ. Neuron-derived D-serine contributes to NMDA receptor activation in cortical neuronal cultures. Degradation of endogenous D-serine by addition of the recombinant enzyme D-serine deaminase diminished NMDA-elicited excitotoxicity. Release of neuronal D-serine was mediated by ionotropic glutamate receptor agonists such as NMDA, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid, and kainate. Removal of either external Ca2+ or Na+ blocked D-serine release. Release of D-serine was mostly through a cytosolic route because it was insensitive to bafilomycin A1, a potent inhibitor of vesicular neurotransmitter uptake. D-serine was also not transported into purified synaptic vesicles under conditions optimal for the uptake of known transmitters. Our results suggest that neurons are a major source of D-serine. Glutamate-induced neuronal D-serine release provides a novel mechanism for activating NMDA receptors by an autocrine or paracrine way.

Molecular determinants ofD-serine-mediated gliotransmission: From release to function

Since the late 80s, it is recognized that functional activation of N-methyl D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) requires the binding of both glutamate and glycine. However, the surprising discovery that the wrong isomer of serine, D-serine, is present in mammals has profoundly challenged this dogmatic model of NMDARs activation. Indeed, there are accumulating evidence indicating that D-serine is the endogenous ligand for the glycine modulatory binding site in many brain areas. D-Serine is synthesized in glial cells by serine racemase (SR) and released upon activation of glutamate receptors. Here, we will provide an overview of recent findings on the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the synthesis and release of this gliotransmitter. We will also emphasize the function of this novel messenger in regulating synaptic excitatory transmission and plasticity in different brain areas. Because it fulfils all criteria for a gliotransmitter, D-serine regulatory action on glutamatergic transmission further illustrates the emerging concept of the "tripartite synapse".