Facilitation by 5-hydroxytryptamine of ATP-activated current in rat pheochromocytoma cells

An economic method to build a puffing instrument for drug application in vitro

BACKGROUND

In in vitro electrophysiological studies, a quick application of picoliters of drug within milliseconds is required to avoid the desensitization of membrane receptors. However, conventional gravity-fed drug delivery devices sometime fail to achieve this. Moreover, the high financial cost of the advanced drug delivery system often limits the application of commercial instruments in academic research.

NEW METHOD

Taking advantage of the availability of data acquisition system and software in almost every electrophysiology laboratory, a simple puffing device was designed and assembled using low-cost commercially off-the-shelf components to inject picoliter amounts of drugs.

RESULTS

An optimal drug delivery with precise timing and volume was achieved using the custom made puffing device. The glutamate-evoked currents of cortical neurons recorded with patch-clamp technique were maintained for a prolonged period of time. Similarly, puffed inhibitory transmitters including GABA and glycine also produced satisfactory currents.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S)

Our custom-made puffing system holds the advantage over conventional gravity-fed systems in operating within milliseconds of time. The channel number of the new device can easily be increased by simply adding more identical modules in parallel, and thus offering more flexibility than commercial puffing devices.

CONCLUSIONS

This custom-made puffing device can be characterized as reliable, modular and inexpensive system for modern drug delivery research and application.

Purinergic signalling and cancer

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

Parkin potentiates ATP-induced currents due to activation of P2X receptors in PC12 cells

Loss-of-function mutations of the parkin gene causes an autosomal recessive juvenile-onset form of Parkinson's disease (AR-JP). Parkin was shown to function as a RING-type E3 ubiquitin protein ligase. However, the function of parkin in neuronal cells remains elusive. Here, we show that expression of parkin-potentiated adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-induced currents that result from activation of the P2X receptors which are widely distributed in the brain and involved in neurotransmission. ATP-induced inward currents were measured in mock-, wild-type or mutant (T415N)-parkin-transfected PC12 cells under the conventional whole-cell patch clamp configuration. The amplitude of ATP-induced currents was significantly greater in wild-type parkin-transfected cells. However, the immunocytochemical study showed no apparent increase in the number of P2X receptors or in ubiquitin levels. The increased currents were attenuated by inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) but not protein kinase C (PKC) or Ca2+ and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII). ATP-induced currents were also regulated by phosphatases and cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 (CDK5) via dopamine and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32), though the phosphorylation at Thr-34 and Thr-75 were unchanged or rather attenuated. We also tried to investigate the effect of alpha-synuclein, a substrate of parkin and also forming Lysine 63-linked multiubiquitin chains. Expression of alpha-synuclein did not affect the amplitude of ATP-induced currents. Our finding provides the evidence for a relationship between parkin and a neurotransmitter receptor, suggesting that parkin may play an important role in synaptic activity.

Molecular properties of P2X receptors

P2X receptors for adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) are a distinct family of ligand-gated cation channels with two transmembrane domains, intracellular amino and carboxy termini and a large extracellular ligand binding loop. Seven genes (P2X(1-7)) have been cloned and the channels form as either homo or heterotrimeric channels giving rise to a wide range of phenotypes. This review aims to give an account of recent work on the molecular basis of the properties of P2X receptors. In particular, to consider emerging information on the assembly of P2X receptor subunits, channel regulation and desensitisation, targeting, the molecular basis of drug action and the functional contribution of P2X receptors to physiological processes.

Potentiation of ATP-induced currents due to the activation of P2X receptors by ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1

Mammalian neuronal cells abundantly express a de-ubiquitinating isozyme, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH L1). Loss of UCH L1 function causes dying-back type of axonal degeneration. However, the function of UCH L1 in neuronal cells remains elusive. Here we show that overexpression of UCH L1 potentiated ATP-induced currents due to the activation of P2X receptors that are widely distributed in the brain and involved in various biological activities including neurosecretion. ATP-induced inward currents were measured in mock-, wild-type or mutant (C90S)-UCH L1-transfected PC12 cells under the conventional whole-cell patch clamp configuration. The amplitude of ATP-induced currents was significantly greater in both wild-type and C90S UCH L1-transfected cells, suggesting that hydrolase activity was not involved but increased level of mono-ubiquitin might play an important role. The increased currents were dependent on cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and Ca2+ and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) but not protein kinase C. In addition, ATP-induced currents were likely to be modified via dopamine and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32) that is regulated by PKA and phosphatases. Our finding shows the first evidence that there is a relationship between UCH L1 and neurotransmitter receptor, suggesting that UCH L1 may play an important role in synaptic activity.

Functional properties of heteromeric P2X(1/5) receptors expressed in HEK cells and excitatory junction potentials in guinea-pig submucosal arterioles

P2X receptors are ATP-gated cation channels; they form as homomers or heteromers from a family of seven related subunits. In particular, heteromeric channels comprising P2X(2) and P2X(3) subunits, or P2X(1) and P2X(5) subunits, show distinctive physiological and pharmacological properties in heterologous expression systems. There is substantial evidence that one of the native P2X receptors in sensory neurones corresponds to the P2X(2/3) heteromer, but there is no evidence for P2X(1/5) heteromers in native tissue. We recorded currents in response to activation of heteromeric P2X(1/5) receptors expressed in HEK293 cells to characterize further their functional properties. The ATP concentration-response curve had a threshold concentration of 1 nM, and a Hill slope of one. TNP-ATP was a weak partial agonist, and a non-competitive antagonist which inhibited maximal ATP currents by 60%. Increasing or decreasing pH from 7.3 shifted the ATP concentration-response curves to the right by fivefold and decreased the maximum current by 40%. Calcium permeability was lower than that observed for other P2X receptors (P(Ca)/P(Na) ratio=1.1). The nanomolar sensitivity of this receptor revealed a steady release of ATP from HEK293 cells, providing an extracellular concentration which ranged from 3 to 300 nM. Noradrenaline (0.3-30 microM) increased ATP-evoked currents by 35%; this facilitation occurred within 20 ms. We also recorded excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) from guinea-pig submucosal arterioles. EJPs were inhibited by suramin and PPADS (IC(50)s of 0.2 microM and 20 microM) but TNP-ATP (0.1-10 microM) inhibited EJPs by <30%. Noradrenaline (0.3-30 microM in the presence of phentolamine and propranolol) decreased EJPs in control preparations but facilitated EJPs by 5-20% in submucosal arterioles from reserpinized guinea-pigs. These properties are discussed in relation to P2X receptors underlying EJPs at autonomic neuroeffector junctions.

pH dependence of facilitation by neurotransmitters and divalent cations of P2X2 purinoceptor/channels

The pH dependence of the facilitation by dopamine (10 microM), 5-hydroxytryptamine (10 microM), adenosine (1 and 100 microM), Zn2+ (10 microM) and Cd2+ (1 mM) of P2X2 purinoceptor/channels was tested by expressing these channels in Xenopus oocytes. In a pH range between 6.0 and 8.5, concentration-response curves for an inward current activated by ATP were shifted toward a lower concentration range at a more acidic pH, indicating that the sensitivity to ATP is pH-dependent. Comparison of the effects of the neurotransmitters and the divalent cations on the ATP-activated current was made using a concentration of ATP which activated 40-50% of the maximal current at each pH value. The current facilitation by dopamine was obvious at pH 7.1 and 7.7, but was not observed at pH 8.5. At pH 6.0, the current was inhibited upon first trials of dopamine, but it was facilitated upon second trials. With 5-hydroxytryptamine and adenosine, the current facilitation was most remarkable at pH 6.0, less remarkable at pH 7.1 and 7.7, and the facilitation was almost abolished at pH 8.5. On the other hand, the current facilitation by Zn2+ and Cd2+ was more remarkable at alkaline pH values (7.7 and 8.5), and the facilitation was almost abolished at pH 6.0. The results suggest that the facilitation of P2X2 purinoceptors depends on pH, and the pH dependence was different between the neurotransmitters and the divalent cations.

Potent inhibition by trivalent cations of ATP-gated channels

The effects of La3+ and other trivalent cations on ATP-gated channels (P2X purinoceptor/channels) were investigated using rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells and Xenopus oocytes expressing these channels. La3+, Gd3+, Ce3+ and Nd3+ (30-300 microM) inhibited an inward current activated by 30 microM ATP in PC12 cells. The concentration-response curve for the ATP-activated current was shifted by La3+ or Gd3+ toward a higher concentration range, and the slope of the curve became steeper, suggesting the inhibition is non-competitive. La3+ or Gd3+ did not affect the current component that was slowly activated upon hyperpolarization, and selectively inhibited the remaining 'voltage-independent' component. La3+ and Gd3+ also inhibited currents mediated through P2X1 and P2X2 purinoceptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The results suggest that La3+ and other trivalent cations inhibit P2X purinoceptors at low concentrations. The inhibition may at least partly be attributed to an allosteric inhibition.

Effects of neuroamines and divalent cations on cloned and mutated ATP-gated channels

Sensitivities to dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, Zn2+ and Cd2+ were studied in P2X1, P2X2, P2X3 and P2X4 purinoceptors and mutants of P2X2 purinoceptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Dopamine (10 and 100 microM) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (1 to 100 microM) enhanced the inward current activated by extracellular ATP through P2X2 and P2X4 purinoceptors. Zn2+ (1 to 100 microM) and Cd2+ (10 microM to 1 microM) enhanced the current through P2X2 purinoceptors. As for P2X4 purinoceptors, the ATP-activated current was, however, enhanced after the washout of Zn2+ (100 microM) or Cd2+ (1 mM). Three mutants of P2X2 purinoceptors were constructed by substituting negatively charged amino-acid residues. The magnitude of the enhancement by Zn2+, Cd2+ and dopamine was attenuated when Asp221 was replaced by histidine. The results suggest that dopamine, Zn2+ and Cd2+ require some common motif for the current enhancement.

Implication of ATP receptors in brain functions

The possible implication of P2-purinoceptors in brain functions is reviewed. Involvement of P2-purinoceptors in memory and learning (Section 2) is suggested by ATP release from hippocampal slices [Wieraszko, A., Goldsmith, G. and Seyfried, T. N. (1989) Brain Res. 485, 244-250], induction of fast synaptic currents in cultured hippocampal neurons [Inoue, K., Nakazawa, K., Fujimori, W. and Takanaka, A. (1992a) Neurosci. Lett. 134, 294-299] and long-lasting enhancement of the population spikes [Wieraszko, A. and Seyfried, T. N. (1989) Brain Res. 491, 356-359; Nishimura, S., Mohri, M., Okada, Y. and Mori, M. (1990) Brain Res. 525, 165-169; Fujii, S., Kato, H., Furuse, H., Ito, K., Osada, H., Hamaguchi, T. and Kuroda, Y. (1995) Neurosci, Lett. 187, 130-132], as well as ATP release on glutamate stimulation to evoke an increase in intracellular Ca2+ in hippocampal cells [Inoue, K., Koizum, S. and Nakazawa, K. (1995) NeuroReport 6, 437-440]. Moreover, mRNAs for certain types of P2x-purinoceptors are present in the hippocampus [Collo, G., North, R. A., Kawashima, E., Merlo-Pich, E., Neidhart, S., Surprenant, A. and Buell, G. (1996) J. Neurosci. 16, 2495-2507]. It is likely, therefore, that ATP may be involved in modulation of synaptic efficiency in the hippocampus. The implication of ATP in schizophrenia is suggested by the fact that antipsychotic drugs inhibit ATP-evoked responses in PC12 cells [Koizumi, S., Ikeda, M., Nakazawa, K., Inoue, K., Ito, K. and Inoue, K. (1995b) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 210, 624-630] without blocking the action of dopamine D2 receptors. Involvement of P2-purinoceptors in Sections 4 ("Pain and cognition") and 5 ("Central regulation of the autonomic system") are also discussed.

Potentiation by cadmium ion of ATP-evoked dopamine release in rat phaeochromocytoma cells

1. The effects of cadmium ion (Cd2+) on release of dopamine and on an inward current evoked by extracellular ATP were investigated in rat phaeochromocytoma PC12 cells. 2. Cd2+ (100 microM-3 mM) potentiated the dopamine release evoked by 30 microM ATP from the cells. Cd2+ (100 microM) shifted the concentration-response curve of ATP-evoked dopamine release to the left without affecting the maximal response. 3. Suramin (30 microM) completely abolished the dopamine release evoked by 30 microM ATP but only partially inhibited the release evoked by 100 microM ATP consistent with its role as a competitive antagonist. The response evoked by 30 microM ATP in the presence of Cd2+ (300 microM) was comparable to that observed with 100 microM ATP alone; however, only the former was almost completely inhibited by suramin. 4. Cd2+ (100 microM) potentiated an inward current activated by 30 microM ATP alone. A higher concentration of Cd2+ (300 microM) had a smaller effect on amplitude potentiation but significantly prolonged the duration of the current. 5. The time-course of the ATP-evoked dopamine release was investigated using a real-time monitoring system for dopamine release. Although Cd2+ (300 microM) had little effect on the time-course of activation the ATP-evoked dopamine release, it produced a long-lasting dopamine release which slowly returned to the baseline. 6. Taken together, these observations suggest that Cd2+ enhances ATP-evoked dopamine release by affecting P2-purinoceptor/channels. The enhancement may be attributed to a Cd(2+)-dependent increase in sensitivity to ATP.

Dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine selectively potentiate neuronal type ATP receptor channels

Dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine have been shown to facilitate a cationic current activated by extracellular ATP in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Effects of these and other modulators were examined by expressing ATP receptor channels in Xenopus oocytes using cDNAs from rat vas deferens ('P2x1-purinoceptor channels') and PC12 cells ('P2x2-purinoceptor channels'). Dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (10 and 100 mu M) facilitated the ATP-activated current mediated through P2x2-purinoceptor channels, but not the current through P2x1-purinoceptor channels. Adenosine (1 mu M) facilitated the current through both P2x1- and P2x2-purinoceptor channels. Cd2+ (1 mM) as well as Zn2+ (10 mu M) selectively potentiated the current through P2x2-purinoceptor channels. The results suggest that (1) the facilitation by dopamine and other modulators also occurs in recombinant ATP-receptor channels, and (2) the selective facilitation by dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and divalent cations of P2x2-purinoceptor channels is attributed to some structural difference of the channels from P2x1-purinoceptor channels.

Accentuation by pertussis toxin of the 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced potentiation of ATP-evoked responses in rat pheochromocytoma cells

We previously demonstrated that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) enhances the cationic current activated by extracellular ATP in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. We report here that pertussis toxin (PTX) modulates this 5-HT-dependent enhancement in these cells. 5-HT potentiated ATP-evoked intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca]i) rise and dopamine release over a concentration range from 1 to 100 microM. When cells were pre-treated with PTX, this potentiation was accentuated. Pretreatment with PTX also accentuated the 5-HT-dependent enhancement of the ATP-activated current. These results suggest that the enhancement by 5-HT of the ATP-evoked responses is negatively regulated by a mechanism mediated through PTX-sensitive GTP-binding protein.