Presence of diadenosine polyphosphates in microdialysis samples from rat cerebellum in vivo: effect of mild hyperammonemia on their receptors

Geoffrey Burnstock, our friend and magister: the diadenosine polyphosphate connection

Development of science needs the cooperation of many creative brains. Sometimes, ideas on a specific area get suddenly exhausted and then it is the time for a privileged mind to think in a different way and reach the turning point to introduce a new paradigm. This happened to Geoffrey Burnstock, a heterodox thinker and nonconformist scientist that has been the paladin of purinergic signalling since 1972, opening neuroscience to the understanding of organs and tissues functioning and development of a new pharmacology. This review summarizes the contribution of our group to the understanding of the role of the diadenosine polyphosphates, Ap_nA, as signalling molecules, describing their tissue and organ distribution, their transport and storage in secretory vesicles and their release and interaction with purinergic receptors. We also have to acknowledge the friendly and kindly support of Professor Burnstock that showed a great interest in the field from our initial findings and actively stimulated our efforts to establish the extracellular roles and biological significance of these dinucleotides.

Physiopathological Role of the Vesicular Nucleotide Transporter (VNUT) in the Central Nervous System: Relevance of the Vesicular Nucleotide Release as a Potential Therapeutic Target

Vesicular storage of neurotransmitters, which allows their subsequent exocytotic release, is essential for chemical transmission in the central nervous system. Neurotransmitter uptake into secretory vesicles is carried out by vesicular transporters, which use the electrochemical proton gradient generated by a vacuolar H⁺-ATPase to drive neurotransmitter vesicular accumulation. ATP and other nucleotides are relevant extracellular signaling molecules that participate in a variety of biological processes. Although the active transport of nucleotides into secretory vesicles has been characterized from the pharmacological and biochemical point of view, the protein responsible for such vesicular accumulation remained unidentified for some time. In 2008, the human SLC17A9 gene, the last identified member of the SLC17 transporters, was found to encode the vesicular nucleotide transporter (VNUT). VNUT is expressed in various ATP-secreting cells and is able to transport a wide variety of nucleotides in a vesicular membrane potential-dependent manner. VNUT knockout mice lack vesicular storage and release of ATP, resulting in blockage of the purinergic transmission. This review summarizes the current studies on VNUT and analyzes the physiological relevance of the vesicular nucleotide transport in the central nervous system. The possible role of VNUT in the development of some pathological processes, such as chronic neuropathic pain or glaucoma is also discussed. The putative involvement of VNUT in these pathologies raises the possibility of the use of VNUT inhibitors for therapeutic purposes.

An Update on P2Y13 Receptor Signalling and Function

The distribution of nucleotide P2Y receptors across different tissues suggests that they fulfil key roles in a number of physiological and pathological conditions. P2Y₁₃ is one of the latest P2Y receptors identified, a novel member of the Gi-coupled P2Y receptor subfamily that responds to ADP, together with P2Y₁₂ and P2Y₁₄. Pharmacological studies drew attention to this new ADP receptor, with a pharmacology that overlaps that of P2Y₁₂ receptors but with unique features and roles. The P2RY12-14 genes all reside on human chromosome 3 at 3q25.1 and their strong sequence homology supports their evolutionary origin through gene duplication. Polymorphisms of P2Y₁₃ receptors have been reported in different human populations, yet their consequences remain unknown. The P2Y₁₃ receptor is versatile in its signalling, extending beyond the canonical signalling of a Gi-coupled receptor. Not only can it couple to different G proteins (Gs/Gq) but the P2Y₁₃ receptor can also trigger several intracellular pathways related to the activation of MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinases) and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/glycogen synthase kinase 3 axis. Moreover, the availability of P2Y₁₃ receptor knockout mice has highlighted the specific functions in which it is involved, mainly in the regulation of cholesterol and glucose metabolism, bone homeostasis and aspects of central nervous system function like pain transmission and neuroprotection. This review summarizes our current understanding of this elusive receptor, not only at the pharmacological and molecular level but also, in terms of its signalling properties and specific functions, helping to clarify the involvement of P2Y₁₃ receptors in pathological situations.

The purinergic neurotransmitter revisited: a single substance or multiple players?

The past half century has witnessed tremendous advances in our understanding of extracellular purinergic signaling pathways. Purinergic neurotransmission, in particular, has emerged as a key contributor in the efficient control mechanisms in the nervous system. The identity of the purine neurotransmitter, however, remains controversial. Identifying it is difficult because purines are present in all cell types, have a large variety of cell sources, and are released via numerous pathways. Moreover, studies on purinergic neurotransmission have relied heavily on indirect measurements of integrated postjunctional responses that do not provide direct information for neurotransmitter identity. This paper discusses experimental support for adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) as a neurotransmitter and recent evidence for possible contribution of other purines, in addition to or instead of ATP, in chemical neurotransmission in the peripheral, enteric and central nervous systems. Sites of release and action of purines in model systems such as vas deferens, blood vessels, urinary bladder and chromaffin cells are discussed. This is preceded by a brief discussion of studies demonstrating storage of purines in synaptic vesicles. We examine recent evidence for cell type targets (e.g., smooth muscle cells, interstitial cells, neurons and glia) for purine neurotransmitters in different systems. This is followed by brief discussion of mechanisms of terminating the action of purine neurotransmitters, including extracellular nucleotide hydrolysis and possible salvage and reuptake in the cell. The significance of direct neurotransmitter release measurements is highlighted. Possibilities for involvement of multiple purines (e.g., ATP, ADP, NAD(+), ADP-ribose, adenosine, and diadenosine polyphosphates) in neurotransmission are considered throughout.

Purinergic Receptors in Spinal Cord-Derived Ependymal Stem/Progenitor Cells and Their Potential Role in Cell-Based Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major cause of paralysis with no current therapies. Following SCI, large amounts of ATP and other nucleotides are released by the traumatized tissue leading to the activation of purinergic receptors that, in coordination with growth factors, induce lesion remodeling and repair. We found that adult mammalian ependymal spinal cord-derived stem/progenitor cells (epSPCs) are capable of responding to ATP and other nucleotidic compounds, mainly through the activation of the ionotropic P2X4, P2X7, and the metabotropic P2Y1 and P2Y4 purinergic receptors. A comparative study between epSPCs from healthy rats versus epSPCis, obtained after SCI, shows a downregulation of P2Y1 receptor together with an upregulation of P2Y4 receptor in epSPCis. Moreover, spinal cord after severe traumatic contusion shows early and persistent increases in the expression of P2X4 and P2X7 receptors around the injury, which are completely reversed when epSPCis were ectopically transplanted. Since epSPCi transplantation significantly rescues neurological function after SCI in parallel to inhibition of the induced P2 ionotropic receptors, a potential avenue is open for therapeutic alternatives in SCI treatments based on purinergic receptors and the endogenous reparative modulation.

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase activity in Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells: changes in expression associated with neuronal differentiation

Neuro-2a (N2a) neuroblastoma cells display an ectoenzymatic hydrolytic activity capable of degrading diadenosine polyphosphates. The Apn A-cleaving activity has been analysed with the use of the fluorogenic compound BODIPY FL guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) thioester. Hydrolysis of this dinucleotide analogue showed a hyperbolic kinetic with a Km value of 4.9 ± 1.3 μM. Diadenosine pentaphosphate, diadenosine tetraphosphate, diadenosine triphosphate, and the nucleoside monophosphate AMP behaved as an inhibitor of BODIPY FL guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) thioester extracellular degradation. Ectoenzymatic activity shared the typical characteristics of the ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family, as hydrolysis reached maximal activity at alkaline pH and was dependent on the presence of divalent cations, being strongly inhibited by EDTA and activated by Zn(2+) ions. Both NPP1 and NPP3 isozymes are expressed in N2a cells, their expression levels substantially changing when cells differentiate into a neuronal-like phenotype. In this sense, it is relevant to point the expression pattern of the NPP3 protein, whose levels were drastically reduced in the differentiated cells, being almost completely absent after 24 h of differentiation. Enzymatic activity assays carried out with differentiated N2a cells showed that NPP1 is the main isozyme involved in the extracellular degradation of dinucleotides in these cells, this enzyme reducing its activity and changing its subcellular location following neuronal differentiation. We described the presence of an ectoenzymatic activity able to hydrolyse diadenosine polyphosphates (ApnA) in N2a cells. This activity displays biochemical features that are typical of the ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (E-NPP) family members, as demonstrated by the use of the fluorogenic compound BODIPY-FL-GTPγS. Both NPP1 and NPP3 ectoenzymes are expressed in N2a cells, their levels dramatically changing when cells differentiate into a neuronal-like phenotype. Activity assays in differentiated cells showed that the ApnA-hydrolytic activity largely depends on the NPP1 isozyme.