An analysis of multiple mechanisms of adenosine toxicity in baby hamster kidney cells

AMPD2 regulates GTP synthesis and is mutated in a potentially treatable neurodegenerative brainstem disorder

Purine biosynthesis and metabolism, conserved in all living organisms, is essential for cellular energy homeostasis and nucleic acid synthesis. The de novo synthesis of purine precursors is under tight negative feedback regulation mediated by adenosine and guanine nucleotides. We describe a distinct early-onset neurodegenerative condition resulting from mutations in the adenosine monophosphate deaminase 2 gene (AMPD2). Patients have characteristic brain imaging features of pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) due to loss of brainstem and cerebellar parenchyma. We found that AMPD2 plays an evolutionary conserved role in the maintenance of cellular guanine nucleotide pools by regulating the feedback inhibition of adenosine derivatives on de novo purine synthesis. AMPD2 deficiency results in defective GTP-dependent initiation of protein translation, which can be rescued by administration of purine precursors. These data suggest AMPD2-related PCH as a potentially treatable early-onset neurodegenerative disease.

Subcellular localization of adenosine kinase in mammalian cells: The long isoform of AdK is localized in the nucleus

Two isoforms of adenosine kinase (AdK) have been identified in mammalian organisms with the long isoform (AdK-long) containing extra 20-21 amino acids at the N-terminus (NTS). The subcellular localizations of these isoforms are not known and they contain no identifiable targeting sequence. Immunofluorescence labeling of mammalian cells expressing either only AdK-long or both isoforms with AdK-specific antibody showed only nuclear labeling or both nucleus and cytoplasmic labeling, respectively. The AdK-long and -short isoforms fused at the C-terminus with c-myc epitope also localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively. Fusion of the AdK-long NTS to green fluorescent protein also resulted in its nuclear localization. AdK-long NTS contains a cluster of conserved amino acids (PKPKKLKVE). Replacement of KK in this sequence with either AA or AD abolished its nuclear localization capability, indicating that this cluster likely serves as a nuclear localization signal. AdK in nucleus is likely required for sustaining methylation reactions.

Extracellular nucleotides and adenosine independently activate AMP-activated protein kinase in endothelial cells: involvement of P2 receptors and adenosine transporters

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a key role in the regulation of energy homeostasis and is activated in response to cellular stress, including hypoxia/ischemia and hyperglycemia. The stress events are accompanied by rapid release of extracellular nucleotides from damaged tissues or activated endothelial cells (EC) and platelets. We demonstrate that extracellular nucleotides (ATP, ADP, and UTP, but not UDP) and adenosine independently induce phosphorylation and activation of AMPK in human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) by the mechanism that is not linked to changes in AMP:ATP ratio. HUVEC express NTPDases, as well as 5'-nucleotidase; hence, nucleotides can be metabolized to adenosine. However, inhibition of 5'-nucleotidase had no effect on ATP/ADP/UTP-induced phospho- rylation of AMPK, indicating that AMPK activation occurred as a direct response to nucleotides. Nucleotide-evoked phosphorylation of AMPK in HUVEC was mediated by P2Y1, P2Y2, and/or P2Y4 receptors, whereas P2Y6, P2Y11, and P2X receptors were not involved. The nucleotide-induced phosphorylation of AMPK was affected by changes in the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ and by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase (CaMKK), although most likely it was not dependent on LKB1 kinase. Adenosine-induced phosphorylation of AMPK was not mediated by P1 receptors but required adenosine uptake by equilibrative nucleoside transporters followed by its (intracellular) metabolism to AMP. Moreover, adenosine effect was Ca2+ and CaMKK independent, although probably associated with upstream LKB1. We hypothesize that P2 receptors and adenosine transporters could be novel targets for the pharmacological regulation of AMPK activity and its downstream effects on EC function.

Mechanisms of adenosine-induced cytotoxicity and their clinical and physiological implications

Extracellular ATP (ATPo) and adenosine are cytotoxic to several cancer cell lines, suggesting their potential use for anticancer therapy. Adenosine causes cytotoxicity, either when added exogenously or when generated from ATPo hydrolysis, via mechanisms which are not mutually exclusive and which involve, adenosine receptor activation, pyrimidine starvation and/or increases in intracellular S-adenosylhomocysteine: S-adenosylmethionine ratio. Given that adenosine also appears to protect against cytotoxicity via mechanisms including immunity against damage by oxygen free radicals, an understanding of the contribution of adenosine to ATPo-induced cytotoxicity is thus crucial, when considering any potential therapeutic use for these compounds. However, such an understanding has been largely hindered by the fact that many studies have not focused enough on the possibility that both ATPo and adenosine may mediate cytotoxicity in the same system. Such studies can benefit from use a range of ATPo concentrations when assessing the contribution of adenosine to ATPo-induced cytotoxicity. Whilst future molecular and pharmacological studies are needed to establish the nature of the cytotoxic adenosine receptor, it is possible that more than just one adenosine receptor type is involved and that the cytotoxic receptor(s) type is more likely to have a low affinity for adenosine. Activation of the adenosine receptor(s) would thus lead to cytotoxicity only at relatively high adenosine concentrations, while lower adenosine concentrations mediate non-cytotoxic physiological effects.

Adenosine and its receptor agonists regulate nitric oxide production and RAW 264.7 macrophages via both receptor binding and its downstream metabolites-inosine

Adenosine and its receptor agonists enhanced the production of nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. The enhancement of LPS-induced NO production by adenosine, as represented by the amount of its oxidation products, nitrite and nitrate, was inhibited by adenosine uptake inhibitors, such as dipyridamole, S(4-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine (NBTI) and S(4-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioguanosine (NBTG). These indicate that the uptake of adenosine by macrophages is a prerequisite for the enhancement effects observed. A downstream metabolite of adenosine, inosine, also potentiated the LPS-induced NO production in a dose-dependent manner while its enhancement effect was also inhibited by dipyridamole. However, the degree of enhancement by inosine on NO production and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 was weaker than the effect of adenosine. Furthermore, adenosine agonists also enhanced the NO production in a dose-dependent manner, but were not specific for A1, A2 nor A3 adenosine receptor. Adenosine uptake inhibitors had no effects on the enhancement activity of the adenosine receptor agonists. Thus, extracellular receptor/s may also play an important role in the observed enhancement responses. The results of this study indicate that the enhancement effects of adenosine on NO production in macrophages could be mediated by the extracellular adenosine receptors as well as the downstream metabolites of adenosine.

Nucleotide metabolizing ectoenzymes are upregulated in A431 cells periodically treated with cytostatic ATP leading to partial resistance without preventing apoptosis

Extracellular ATP, when added as a single dose at concentrations higher than 0.1 mM to the culture medium, was growth inhibitory or even cytotoxic for human epidermoid carcinoma cells (A431). Adenosine at the same concentrations was much less potent. The molecular mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of extracellular ATP has been investigated. The cytostatic as well as the cytotoxic effects of ATP could be prevented by supplying uridine as a pyrimidine source and, alternatively, by simultaneous addition of dipyridamole, which inhibits the uptake of adenosine. The data suggest that the long-term production and continuous uptake of adenosine, which is enzymatically generated from the ATP in the medium, led to an intracellular nucleotide imbalance with pyrimidine starvation. This triggered suicidal processes ending up in apoptosis of the cells. The tumor cells have been adapted to extracellular ATP with the aim to obtain cells which are more resistant to ATP. Therefore, growing cells were periodically treated with extracellular ATP. These cells were characterized by an enlargement of cell size, a decreased proliferation rate, and a reduced but not abolished sensitivity to cytostatic and cytotoxic ATP doses. The calcium response of adapted cells was shortened. The nucleotide hydrolyzing ectoenzyme activities (ecto-ATPase, ecto-ADPase, ecto-AMPase, ecto-Ap4Aase) were simultaneously upregulated. All phenotypic alterations of the adapted cells disappeared after cultivation for several generations in the absence of extracellular ATP. Considering ATP as a potential chemotherapeutic agent the adaptive phenomena of treated cells might be important.

Inhibition of cancer growth and selective glutathione depletion in Ehrlich tumour cells in vivo by extracellular ATP

We have investigated the effect of extracellular ATP on tumour-cell proliferation and GSH levels in Ehrlich-ascites-tumour-bearing mice. After daily administration of exogenous ATP (1 mmol/kg) during 7 days, we found a 56% inhibition of tumour growth, precisely when controls show the highest rates of cell proliferation and the highest levels of GSH. This effect is accompanied by a decrease in GSH content in the tumour, but not in normal tissues. The decrease in GSH concentration within the cancer cells is associated with a decrease in gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity and in protein synthesis. Growth inhibition is mediated by generation of extracellular adenosine, which subsequently increases intracellular levels of ATP and decreases intracellular levels of UTP in the cancer cells. Our results suggest that inhibition of tumour growth by ATP is due to an adenosine-dependent pyrimidine starvation effect.

The bis(adenosin-N6-yl) alkanes, a family of potential dinucleoside polyphosphate analogue precursors. Mechanism of growth inhibition and suppression of adenosine toxicity in lymphoid cells

The potential diadenosine polyphosphate analogue precursor, bis(adenosin-N6-yl)dodecane (A[CH2]12A) (Chen, H. & McLennan, A. G. (1993) Eur. J. Biochem. 213, 935-944.) is equally toxic to both wild-type and adenosine-kinase-deficient BHK cells at concentrations up to 100 microM; at higher concentrations, wild-type cells are more sensitive, as are cells over-expressing adenosine kinase. Thus both the nucleoside and its nucleotide products are toxic. In contrast to adenosine toxicity, the toxicity of A[CH2]12A to S-49 T-lymphoma cells could not be reversed by uridine or by L-homocysteine thiolactone. A[CH2]12A and all its shorter chain bis(adenosin-N6-yl)alkane homologues could relieve the toxicity of low adenosine concentrations (< 20 microM) to S-49 cells, mainly through inhibition of adenosine kinase, while relief of the toxicity of high adenosine concentrations (> 20 microM) required the longer chain homologues. A[CH2]12A at 10 microM completely eliminated adenosine toxicity. Deoxyadenosine toxicity could also be relieved, but only that due to low concentrations (< 4 microM). A[CH2]12A had only a slight stimulatory effect on S-adenosylhomocysteine-hydrolase activity.

Imbalance of purine nucleotides in alanosine-resistant baby hamster kidney cells

Human DNA was used to transform adenosine kinase (AK)-deficient BHK cells followed by selection of AK+ cells in medium containing alanosine, adenosine, and uridine (AAU medium). Twenty AAUr isolates were analyzed, and none of them contained AK activity. Several purine salvage enzymes were, however, found to be affected in these cells. The levels of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and adenylosuccinate synthetase activities were elevated, while the adenylosuccinase activity was reduced. AAU-resistance may be explained by elevated activity of adenylosuccinate synthetase to overcome the alanosine block; thus AAUr cells were able to convert exogenous adenosine----inosine----hypoxanthine----IMP----AMPS----AMP. Moreover, these AAUr cells required exogenous purines for growth. HPLC analyses of endogenous nucleotide pools of AAUr cells showed that the levels of adenine nucleotides have diminished to less than 10% of the parental levels. These results suggest that the AAU-resistant mutation, which elicits pleiotropic phenotypes in BHK cells, affects an important component in the regulation of adenine nucleotide synthesis. By including erthyro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine in the AAU medium (renamed as AAUE medium) to block deamination of adenosine, AK+ BHK cells were isolated.

Methylthioadenosine toxicity and metabolism to methionine in mammalian cells

5'-Deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine, a by-product of polyamine synthesis, can support the growth of Raji cells in a methionine-free medium, but not the growth of CCL39 cells, although these cells are also able to incorporate radiolabelled 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (MeSAdo) into methionine, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) and proteins [Christa, Kersual, Augé & Pérignon (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 135, 131-138]. We first tested the hypothesis of a toxic effect of MeSAdo in the conditions of growth experiments: we could not demonstrate any toxic effect of MeSAdo on the synthesis of macromolecules, nor any toxicity mediated by polyamines or pyrimidine starvation, and we found that the growth of CCL39 cells was strictly dependent on the supply of exogenous methionine. We then tried to determine whether the ability of CCL39 cells to metabolize MeSAdo to methionine and AdoMet was modulated by the proliferation state of CCL39 cells, which is dependent on the supply of exogenous methionine. Studies of the incorporation of radiolabelled MeSAdo show that: (i) the total synthesis of methionine from MeSAdo is twice as high in subconfluent cells (grown in 100 microM-methionine) as in resting cells (cultured in 0 microM-methionine); (ii) the incorporation into proteins does not parallel the total protein synthesis, and the methionine derived from MeSAdo mostly flows out of the cell; (iii) addition of methionine to resting cells immediately leads to a transient and marked increase in metabolism of MeSAdo to AdoMet, presumably reflecting the rapid replenishment of the AdoMet pool of the cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the methionine derived from MeSAdo is preferentially used to synthesize AdoMet rather than proteins, and that this synthesis of AdoMet depends on the ability of the CCL39 cells to grow, and hence on the supply of exogenous methionine. It is proposed that, in CCL39 cells, the metabolic pathway leading from MeSAdo (a by-product of polyamine synthesis) to methionine and to AdoMet (a precursor of polyamine synthesis) is part of a metabolic cycle the activity of which depends, like polyamine synthesis itself, on cell proliferation.

Biphasic responses, quantal signals and cellular behaviour

It is commonplace to think of thresholds in biological systems. Biphasic responses, with both thresholds and upper limits, or lintels, are also surprisingly common. In this paper we show that they are found in many systems in which an aspect of cellular behaviour is controlled by chemical signals. In some cases the biphasic response can lead to the partitioning of a tissue into regions expressing different behaviours and, therefore, in principle able to take different developmental and evolutionary paths within the same organism. Several other features are common; these include brief, all-or-nothing responses and the expression of different behaviours evoked by a signal of a single chemical species in one or more cell types, but over different concentration ranges. Such behaviour is illustrated very clearly by the differentiation of cells in the mammalian immune system as well as by developing slime mould cells, so the underlying principle is widespread. We suggest that the interaction of unitary behaviours with chemical signals showing such non-linear concentration dependences will account for the complexity of development.

Inhibition of methylation of DNA and tRNA by adenosine in an adenosine-sensitive mutant of the baby hamster kidney cell line

An adenosine-sensitive (Ados) mutant of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, ara-S10d, when treated with a toxic concentration of adenosine (Ado), displayed a substantial elevation of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and methylthioadenosine (MTA). Wild-type BHK cells treated with the same concentration of Ado (not toxic to these parental cells) produced an elevation of SAH 1.5 times higher than that of ara-S10d cells without a concurrent elevation of SAM or MTA. Inhibition of methylation of DNA and tRNA is greater in ara-S10d cells treated with Ado than that of similarly treated wild-type cells. This inhibition was correlated with the enhanced Ado toxicity, suggesting inhibition of methylation as a possible causal factor for the great increase in Ado sensitivity. Inhibition of methylation may be due to the elevated level of MTA and not solely to the elevation of SAH, a well-known potent inhibitor of numerous methyltransferases.