Enteric purinergic signaling: Shaping the "brain in the gut". Neuropharmacology. 2015;95:477-478. [PMID: 25981956 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.04.021]

Macrophages and glia are the dominant P2X7-expressing cell types in the gut nervous system-No evidence for the role of neuronal P2X7 receptors in colitis

The blockade or deletion of the pro-inflammatory P2X7 receptor channel has been shown to reduce tissue damage and symptoms in models of inflammatory bowel disease, and P2X7 receptors on enteric neurons were suggested to mediate neuronal death and associated motility changes. Here, we used P2X7-specific antibodies and nanobodies, as well as a bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic P2X7-EGFP reporter mouse model and P2rx7^-/- controls to perform a detailed analysis of cell type-specific P2X7 expression and possible overexpression effects in the enteric nervous system of the distal colon. In contrast to previous studies, we did not detect P2X7 in neurons but found dominant expression in glia and macrophages, which closely interact with the neurons. The overexpression of P2X7 per se did not induce significant pathological effects. Our data indicate that macrophages and/or glia account for P2X7-mediated neuronal damage in inflammatory bowel disease and provide a refined basis for the exploration of P2X7-based therapeutic strategies.

P2X7 receptor antagonist recovers ileum myenteric neurons after experimental ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

The P2X7 receptor is expressed by enteric neurons and enteric glial cells. Studies have demonstrated that administration of a P2X7 receptor antagonist, brilliant blue G (BBG), prevents neuronal loss.

AIM

To report the effects of BBG in ileum enteric neurons immunoreactive (ir) following experimental ulcerative colitis in Rattus norvegicus albinus.

METHODS

2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS group, n = 5) was injected into the distal colon. BBG (50 mg/kg, BBG group, n = 5) or vehicle (sham group, n = 5) was given subcutaneously 1 h after TNBS. The animals were euthanized after 24 h, and the ileum was removed. Immunohistochemistry was performed on the myenteric plexus to evaluate immunoreactivity for P2X7 receptor, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), HuC/D and glial fibrillary acidic protein.

RESULTS

The numbers of nNOS-, ChAT-, HuC/D-ir neurons and glial fibrillary acidic protein-ir glial cells were decreased in the TNBS group and recovered in the BBG group. The neuronal profile area (μm²) demonstrated that nNOS-ir neurons decreased in the TNBS group and recovered in the BBG group. There were no differences in the profile areas of ChAT- and HuC/D-ir neurons.

CONCLUSION

Our data conclude that ileum myenteric neurons and glial cells were affected by ulcerative colitis and that treatment with BBG had a neuroprotective effect. Thus, these results demonstrate that the P2X7 receptor may be an important target in therapeutic strategies.

BPTU, an allosteric antagonist of P2Y1 receptor, blocks nerve mediated inhibitory neuromuscular responses in the gastrointestinal tract of rodents

P2Y1 receptors mediate nerve mediated purinergic inhibitory junction potentials (IJP) and relaxations in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in a wide range of species including rodents and humans. A new P2Y1 antagonist, with a non-nucleotide structure, BPTU, has recently been described using X-ray crystallography as the first allosteric G-protein-coupled receptor antagonist located entirely outside of the helical bundle. In this study, we tested its effect on purinergic responses in the gastrointestinal tract of rodents using electrophysiological and myographic techniques. BPTU concentration dependently inhibited purinergic inhibitory junction potentials and inhibition of spontaneous motility induced by electrical field stimulation in the colon of rats (EC50 = 0.3 μM) and mice (EC50 = 0.06 μM). Mechanical inhibitory responses were also concentration-dependently blocked in the stomach of both species. Compared to MRS2500, BPTU displays a lower potency. In the rat colon nicotine induced relaxation was also blocked by BPTU. BPTU also blocked the cessation of spontaneous contractility elicited by ADPβS and the P2Y1 agonist MRS2365. We conclude that BPTU is a novel antagonist with different structural and functional properties than nucleotidic antagonists that is able to block the P2Y1 receptor located at the neuromuscular junction of the GI tract.