Inhibition of adenosine deaminase activity reveals an intense active transport of adenosine into neurons in primary cultures

Protection by inosine in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease

Inosine (hypoxanthine 9-beta-D-ribofuranoside), a purine nucleoside with multiple intracellular roles, also serves as an extracellular modulatory signal. On neurons, it can produce anti-inflammatory and trophic effects that confer protection against toxic influences in vivo and in vitro. The protective effects of inosine treatment might also be mediated by its metabolite urate. Urate in fact possesses potent antioxidant properties and has been reported to be protective in preclinical Parkinson's disease (PD) studies and to be an inverse risk factor for both the development and progression of PD. In this study we assessed whether inosine might protect rodent MES 23.5 dopaminergic cell line from oxidative stress in a cellular model of PD, and whether its effects could be attributed to urate. MES 23.5 cells cultured alone or in presence of enriched murine astroglial cultures MES 23.5-astrocytes co-cultures were pretreated with inosine (0.1-100 μM) for 24 h before addition of the oxidative stress inducer H₂O₂ (200 μM). Twenty-four hours later, cell viability was quantified by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay or immunocytochemistry in pure and MES 23.5-astrocytes co-cultures, respectively. H₂O₂-toxic effect on dopaminergic cells was reduced when they were cultured with astrocytes, but not when they were cultured alone. Moreover, in MES 23.5-astrocytes co-cultures, indicators of free radical generation and oxidative damage, evaluated by nitrite (NO₂(-)) release and protein carbonyl content, respectively, were attenuated. Conditioned medium experiments indicated that the protective effect of inosine relies on the release of a protective factor from inosine-stimulated astrocytes. Purine levels were measured in the cellular extract and conditioned medium using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Urate concentration was not significantly increased by inosine treatment however there was a significant increase in levels of other purine metabolites, such as adenosine, hypoxanthine and xanthine. In particular, in MES 23.5-astrocytes co-cultures, inosine medium content was reduced by 99% and hypoxanthine increased by 127-fold. Taken together these data raise the possibility that inosine might have a protective effect in PD that is independent of any effects mediated through its metabolite urate.

Glycogenolysis and purinergic signaling

Both ATP and glutamate are on one hand essential metabolites in brain and on the other serve a signaling function as transmitters. However, there is the major difference that the flux in the pathway producing transmitter glutamate is comparable to the rate of glucose metabolism in brain, whereas that producing transmitter ATP is orders of magnitude smaller than the metabolic turnover between ATP and ADP. Moreover, de novo glutamate production occurs exclusively in astrocytes, whereas transmitter ATP is produced both in neurons and astrocytes. This chapter deals only with ATP and exclusively with its formation and release in astrocytes, and it focuses on potential associations with glycogenolysis, which is known to be indispensable for the synthesis of glutamate. Glycogenolysis is dependent upon an increase in free intracellular Ca(2+) concentration (Ca(2+)]i). It can be further stimulated by cAMP, but in contrast to widespread beliefs, cAMP can on its own not induce glycogenolysis. Astrocytes generate ATP from accumulated adenosine, and this process does not seem to require glycogenolysis. A minor amount of the generated ATP is utilized as a transmitter, and its synthesis requires the presence of the mainly intracellular nucleoside transporter ENT3. Many transmitters as well as extracellular K(+) concentrations high enough to open the voltage-sensitive L-channels for Ca(2+) cause a release of transmitter ATP from astrocytes. Adenosine and ATP induce release of ATP by action at several different purinergic receptors. The release evoked by transmitters or elevated K(+) concentrations is abolished by DAB, an inhibitor of glycogenolysis.

The mitochondrial permeability transition, and oxidative and nitrosative stress in the mechanism of copper toxicity in cultured neurons and astrocytes

Copper is an essential element and an integral component of various enzymes. However, excess copper is neurotoxic and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Wilson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, prion conditions, and other disorders. Although mechanisms of copper neurotoxicity are not fully understood, copper is known to cause oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. As oxidative stress is an important factor in the induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT), we determined whether mPT plays a role in copper-induced neural cell injury. Cultured astrocytes and neurons were treated with 20 microM copper and mPT was measured by changes in the cyclosporin A (CsA)-sensitive inner mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta Psi m), employing the potentiometric dye TMRE. In astrocytes, copper caused a 36% decrease in the Delta Psi m at 12 h, which decreased further to 48% by 24 h and remained at that level for at least 72 h. Cobalt quenching of calcein fluorescence as a measure of mPT similarly displayed a 45% decrease at 24 h. Pretreatment with antioxidants significantly blocked the copper-induced mPT by 48-75%. Copper (24 h) also caused a 30% reduction in ATP in astrocytes, which was completely blocked by CsA. Copper caused death (42%) in astrocytes by 48 h, which was reduced by antioxidants (35-60%) and CsA (41%). In contrast to astrocytes, copper did not induce mPT in neurons. Instead, it caused early and extensive death with a concomitant reduction (63%) in ATP by 14 h. Neuronal death was prevented by antioxidants and nitric oxide synthase inhibitors but not by CsA. Copper increased protein tyrosine nitration in both astrocytes and neurons. These studies indicate that mPT, and oxidative and nitrosative stress represent major factors in copper-induced toxicity in astrocytes, whereas oxidative and nitrosative stress appears to play a major role in neuronal injury.

Astrocytes protect neurons from ammonia toxicity

Ammonia is a neurotoxin that is implicated in the CNS dysfunction associated with hepatic encephalopathy, urea cycle disorders, Reye's syndrome and other neurological conditions. While in vivo studies suggest that astrocytes are the principal target of ammonia toxicity, recent in vitro investigations suggest that neurons may also be directly affected by ammonia. To further examine the issue of neural cell sensitivity to ammonia, pure rat cortical neuronal cultures, as well as co-cultures of neurons and astrocytes, were exposed to 5 mM NH4Cl for 48 h. Cultures were examined for morphological changes by light microscopy, measures of cell death, free radical production and changes in the mitochondrial inner membrane potential. Ammonia caused extensive degenerative changes in pure cultured neurons, while such neuronal changes were minor in the co-cultures. Similarly, processes of pure cultured neurons displayed a significant loss of the mitochondrial inner membrane potential, as compared to neurons in co-cultures. Cell death (LDH release) in ammonia-treated neuronal cultures was twice as great as untreated controls, while in co-cultures ammonia did not significantly increase cell death. Free radical production at 3 min was increased (69%, P<0.05) in pure neuronal cultures but not in co-cultures. The neuroprotective effects observed in co-cultures may have been mediated by the astrocyte's ability to scavenge free radicals, by their detoxification of ammonia and/or by their neurotrophic actions. The neuroprotective action of astrocytes may explain the failure to detect significant pathological changes in neurons in ammonia toxicity in vivo.

Differential response of glutamine in cultured neurons and astrocytes

Glutamine, a byproduct of ammonia detoxification, is found elevated in brain in hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and other hyperammonemic disorders. Such elevation has been implicated in some of the deleterious effects of ammonia on the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies have shown that glutamine results in the induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) in cultured astrocytes. We examined whether glutamine shows similar effects in cultured neurons. Both cultured astrocytes and neurons were exposed to glutamine (6.5 mM) for 24 hr and the MPT was assessed by changes in cyclosporin A (CsA)-sensitive inner mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) using the potentiometric dye tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE). Glutamine significantly dissipated the DeltaPsi(m) in astrocytes as demonstrated by a decrease in mitochondrial TMRE fluorescence, a process that was blocked by CsA. On the other hand, treatment of cultured neurons with glutamine had no effect on the DeltaPsi(m). Dissipation of the DeltaPsi(m) in astrocytes by glutamine was blocked by treatment with 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON; 100 microM), suggesting that glutamine hydrolysis and the subsequent generation of ammonia, which has been shown previously to induce the MPT, might be involved in MPT induction by glutamine. These data indicate that astrocytes but not neurons are vulnerable to the toxic effects of glutamine. The selective induction of oxidative stress and the MPT by glutamine in astrocytes may partially explain the deleterious affects of glutamine on the CNS in the setting of hyperammonemia, as well as account for the predominant involvement of astrocytes in the pathogenesis of HE and other hyperammonemic conditions.

Nucleoside transporter expression and function in cultured mouse astrocytes

Uptake of purine and pyrimidine nucleosides in astrocytes is important for several reasons: (1) uptake of nucleosides contributes to nucleic acid synthesis; (2) astrocytes synthesize AMP, ADP, and ATP from adenosine and GTP from guanosine; and (3) adenosine and guanosine function as neuromodulators, whose effects are partly terminated by cellular uptake. It has previously been shown that adenosine is rapidly accumulated by active uptake in astrocytes (Hertz and Matz, Neurochem Res 14:755-760, 1989), but the ratio between active uptake and metabolism-driven uptake of adenosine is unknown, as are uptake characteristics for guanosine. The present study therefore aims at providing detailed information of nucleoside transport and transporters in primary cultures of mouse astrocytes. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction identified the two equilibrative nucleoside transporters, ENT1 and ENT2, together with the concentrative nucleoside transporter CNT2, whereas CNT3 was absent, and CNT1 expression could not be investigated. Uptake studies of tritiated thymidine, formycin B, guanosine, and adenosine (3-s uptakes at 1-4 degrees C to study diffusional uptake and 1-60-min uptakes at 37 degrees C to study concentrative uptake) demonstrated a fast diffusional uptake of all four nucleosides, a small, Na(+)-independent and probably metabolism-driven uptake of thymidine (consistent with DNA synthesis), larger metabolism-driven uptakes of guanosine (consistent with synthesis of DNA, RNA, and GTP) and especially of adenosine (consistent with rapid nucleotide synthesis), and Na(+)-dependent uptakes of adenosine (consistent with its concentrative uptake) and guanosine, rendering neuromodulator uptake independent of nucleoside metabolism. Astrocytes are accordingly well suited for both intense nucleoside metabolism and metabolism-independent uptake to terminate neuromodulator effects of adenosine and guanosine.

Manganese Induces the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition in Cultured Astrocytes

Manganese is known to cause central nervous system injury leading to parkinsonism and to contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. Although mechanisms of manganese neurotoxicity are not completely understood, chronic exposure of various cell types to manganese has shown oxidative stress and mitochondrial energy failure, factors that are often implicated in the induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). In this study, we examined whether exposure of cultured neurons and astrocytes to manganese induces the MPT. Cells were treated with manganese acetate (10-100 microM), and the MPT was assessed by changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential and in mitochondrial calcein fluorescence. In astrocytes, manganese caused a dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased the mitochondrial calcein fluorescence in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. These changes were completely blocked by pretreatment with cyclosporin A, consistent with induction of the MPT. On the other hand, similarly treated cultured cortical neurons had a delayed or reduced MPT as compared with astrocytes. The manganese-induced MPT in astrocytes was blocked by pretreatment with antioxidants, suggesting the potential involvement of oxidative stress in this process. Induction of the MPT by manganese and associated mitochondrial dysfunction in astrocytes may represent key mechanisms in manganese neurotoxicity.

Guanosine-induced increase in free cytosolic calcium concentration in mouse astrocytes in primary cultures: does it act on an A3 adenosine receptor?

Purinergic receptors play an important role in the regulation of free cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in astrocytes. In the present study, 10 microM adenosine caused an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in 85% of the cultures studied, i.e., primary cultures of mouse astrocytes, differentiated by culturing in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Antagonist sensitivity and rapid desensitization suggested that it did so by acting on A3 receptors. Another biologically important purine, guanosine, also caused an increase in astrocytic [Ca(2+)](i) (at concentrations of 0.1-100 microM). Although this response did not show the same rapid desensitization as the response to adenosine, it may also have been exerted on an A3 receptor. It supports this idea that inosine also caused an increase in [Ca(2+)](i), because inosine is known to activate A3 receptors in mast cells and structurally is even more closely related to guanosine than is adenosine.

Adenosine induces initial hypoxic-ischemic depression of synaptic transmission in the rat hippocampus in vivo

The present study was designed to investigate the role of adenosine in the hypoxic depression of synaptic transmission in rat hippocampus. An in vivo model of hypoxic synaptic depression was developed in which the common carotid artery was occluded on one side in the urethane-anesthetized rat. Inspired oxygen levels were controlled through a tracheal cannula. Rats were placed in a stereotaxic apparatus for stimulation and recording of bilateral hippocampal field excitatory postsynaptic potentials. The percent inspired oxygen could be reduced to levels that produced a reversible and repeatable depression of evoked synaptic transmission restricted to the hippocampus ipsilateral to the occlusion. Further reduction in the level of inspired oxygen depressed synaptic transmission recorded from both hippocampi. The adenosine nonselective antagonist caffeine and the A(1) selective antagonist 8-cyclopentyltheophylline prevented the initial depression in synaptic transmission. We conclude that the initial depression of synaptic transmission observed in the rat hippocampus in vivo is due to endogenous adenosine acting at neuronal adenosine A(1) receptors.

Ionic dependence of adenosine uptake into cultured astrocytes

Adenosine uptake in cultured astrocytes is dependent on various ions and energy metabolism. The Na(+)-gradient plays an important role, since nigericin, ouabain, amiloride and substitution of Na+ with choline inhibited adenosine uptake. The proton-gradient was of importance, since carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrozone (CCCP) and omeprazole also inhibited adenosine uptake. Furthermore, adenosine uptake was dependent on Cl- anion. Substitution of Cl- with isethionate, as well as DIDS or furosemide inhibited adenosine uptake. Adenosine uptake was also sensitive to Ca2+ gradient, removal of extracellular Ca2+ and calcimycin inhibited adenosine uptake. Adenosine uptake was not dependent on extracellular K+ and was not affected by valinomycin. Although, K(+)-channel openers (BRL 34195 and nicorandil) as well as the K(+)-channel antagonist, glyburide, inhibited adenosine uptake, the inhibitory effect of BRL 34915 was not antagonized by glyburide. Rotenone and 2,4-dinitrophenol also inhibited adenosine uptake. Ionic dependence and metabolic energy dependence of adenosine uptake suggest that uptake is primarily an active process.

Characterization of adenosine receptors in a model of cultured neurons from rat forebrain

The neuromodulator adenosine is acting through specific receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase via G-proteins. The expression of both adenosine receptors A1 and A2 as well as forskolin binding sites was investigated by radioligand binding techniques in 8-day-old neurons isolated from fetal rat forebrain and cultured in chemically-defined medium. Adenosine A1 receptors were specifically labeled with [3H]chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA), whereas [3H]CGS 21680 was used for the analysis of A2 receptors. Cultured neurons exhibited high affinity binding sites for CCPA (Bmax = 160 fmol/mg protein; Kd = 2.9 nM), and for CGS 21680 (Bmax = 14 fmol/mg protein; Kd = 1.7 nM). These data correlate well with those obtained in crude membranes isolated from the newborn rat forebrain. The incubation of culture membranes in the additional presence of guanylyl-5'-imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p, a GTP analogue) led to significantly increased Kd-values, suggesting the association of adenosine receptors with G-proteins. Finally, cultured neurons also bound specifically [3H]forskolin with characteristics close to those found in the newborn brain, indicating that cultured neurons appear as an appropriate model for studying the neuromodulatory properties of adenosine.

Differential distribution of purine metabolizing enzymes between glia and neurons

Previous studies showed that in cultured chick ciliary ganglion neurons and CNS glia, adenosine can be synthesized by hydrolysis of 5'-AMP and that the accumulation of the adenosine degradative products inosine and hypoxanthine was significantly greater in glial than in neuronal cultures. Furthermore, previous immunochemical and histochemical studies in brain showed that adenosine deaminase and nucleoside phosphorylase are localized in endothelial and glial cells but are absent in neurons; however, adenosine deaminase may be found in a few neurons in discrete brain regions. These results suggested that adenosine degradative pathways may be more active in glia. Thus, we have determined if there is a differential distribution of adenosine deaminase, nucleoside phosphorylase, and xanthine oxidase enzyme fluxes in glia, comparing primary cultures of central and ciliary ganglion neurons and glial cells from chick embryos. Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and production of adenosine by S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase activity were also examined. Our results show that there is a distinct profile of purine metabolizing enzymes for glia and neurons in culture. Both cell types have an S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, but it was more active in neurons than in glia. In contrast, in glia the enzymatic activities of xanthine oxidase (443 +/- 61 pmol/min/10(7) cells), nucleoside phosphorylase (187 +/- 8 pmol/min/10(7) cells), and adenosine deaminase (233 +/- 32 pmol/min/10(7) cells) were more active at least 100, 20, and five times, respectively, than in ciliary ganglion neurons and 100, 100, and nine times, respectively, than in central neurons.

Differences in purine metabolism in patients with Down's syndrome

Three enzymes intervening in de novo purine synthesis, as well as cystathionine B-synthetase, have been mapped to chromosome 21. In order to gain a better understanding of purine synthesis anomalies in Down's syndrome, the present authors studied the variations in mitotic index of lymphocyte cultures to which various inhibitors or metabolites of purine synthesis had been added. In spite of common gene dosage effects, unexpected and highly significant differences were noted between Down's syndrome patients without complications and those presenting with additional psychotic features. In Down's syndrome patients without complications, a highly significant decrease in mitotic index was noted in the presence of exogenous inosine. A significant decrease in the presence of adenosine and guanosine was also noted. These findings are in keeping with the expected metabolic repercussions of genes mapped to chromosome 21. In Down's syndrome patients with psychotic complications, the in vitro reactions were quite different. A paradoxal increase in mitotic index was noted in the presence of inosine and of adenosine, but the response to guanosine did not differ from that observed in normal controls. These findings were unexpected and seem to indicate that, in spite of the gene dosage effect, psychotic Down's syndrome patients are unable to compensate abnormal purine synthesis and resulting imbalances. Furthermore, a marked difference in purine metabolic reactions was noted between Down's syndrome patients receiving supplemental folic/folinic acid and those on no therapy. This suggests that some modulation of the gene dosage effect may be possible.

Transport and metabolism of D-[3H]adenosine and L-[3H]adenosine in rat cerebral cortical synaptoneurosomes

The relationship between transport and metabolism in synaptoneurosomes was examined to determine the metabolic stability of rapidly accumulated D-[3H]adenosine and L-[3H]adenosine and the degree to which metabolism of the accumulated purines affected measurements of apparent KT and Vmax values for adenosine transport. For D-[3H]adenosine, high- and low-affinity accumulation processes were present. For the high-affinity system an inverse relationship was found between transport reaction times and KT and Vmax values. For incubations of 5, 15, and 600 s, which corresponded to 24, 32, and 76% phosphorylation of accumulated D-[3H]adenosine to nucleotides, apparent KT values were 9.4, 8.4, and 4.5 microM, respectively, and Vmax values were 850, 70, and 12 pmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. Pretreatment with 10 microM erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine, an adenosine deaminase inhibitor, and 5'-iodotubercidin, an adenosine kinase inhibitor, decreased the phosphorylation of accumulated D-[3H]adenosine to 6% with 5-s and 9% with 15-s incubations. This resulted in significantly higher KT values: 36 microM at 5 s and 44 microM at 15 s. At 10-min incubations in the presence of these inhibitors, metabolism of accumulated D-[3H]adenosine was 32%, and apparent KT and Vmax values at this time were not significantly different from those obtained without inhibitors. For L-[3H]adenosine, apparent KT and Vmax values for 20-s incubations were 38.7 microM and 330 pmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. Metabolism (mainly phosphorylation) of accumulated L-[3H]adenosine was observed only at incubations of greater than 30 s.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of adenosine immunoreactivity, uptake, and release in purified cultures of developing chick embryo retinal neurons and photoreceptors

We have investigated the presence of endogenous adenosine and of mechanisms for adenosine uptake and release in chick embryo retinal neurons and photoreceptors grown in purified cultures in the absence of glial cells. Simultaneous autoradiographic and immunocytochemical analysis showed that endogenous adenosine and the uptake mechanism for this nucleoside colocalize in practically all the photoreceptors, but only in approximately 20% of the neurons. Approximately 25% of the neurons showed either immunocytochemical labeling or autoradiographic labeling, while greater than 50% of the neurons were unlabeled with both techniques. [3H]Adenosine uptake was saturable and could be inhibited by nitrobenzylthioinosine and dipyridamole and by pretreatment of the [3H]adenosine with adenosine deaminase. Although these observations indicate that the uptake is specific for adenosine, only 35% of accumulated radioactivity was associated with adenosine, with the remaining 65% representing inosine, hypoxanthine, and nucleotides plus uric acid. Adenosine as well as several of its metabolites were released by the cells under basal as well as K(+)-stimulated conditions. Potassium-enhanced release was blocked by 10 mM CoCl2 or in Ca2(+)-free, Mg2(+)-rich solutions. The results indicate that retinal cells that synthesize, store, and release adenosine differentiate early during embryogenesis and are therefore consistent with a hypothetical role for adenosine in retinal development.

Effects of adenosine deaminase inhibition on active uptake and metabolism of adenosine in astrocytes in primary cultures

The use of a relatively specific adenosine deaminase inhibitor, 2'-deoxycoformycin (1.0 microM), has revealed an active transport of adenosine into astrocytes in primary cultures. The abolishment of part of the metabolic degradation and of a concentration gradient, which may favour influx, did not lead to a decreased total uptake. The concentration of labelled, i.e. exchangeable adenosine rose to become several fold higher than in the medium. Thus, as previously shown in neurons, the uptake of adenosine into astrocytes occurs by an active and concentrative process. As a result of the increase in the adenosine concentration when the inhibitor was present, evidence for an increased phosphorylation to the nucleotides (i.e. ATP, ADP, AMP) was obtained. This is in contrast to previous findings in neurons where the incorporation of labelled adenosine into these compounds was decreased in the presence of 2'-deoxycoformycin. This difference may suggest that the salvage pathway from inosine to adenine nucleotides is crucial for nucleotide synthesis in neurons, but not in astrocytes.