Early expression of adenosine 5'-triphosphate-gated P2X7 receptors in the developing rat pancreas

Purinergic signalling in host innate immune defence against intracellular pathogens

Purinergic signalling is an evolutionarily conserved signalling pathway mediated by extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides. Tri- and diphosphonucleotides released from host cells during intracellular pathogen infections activate plasma membrane purinergic type 2 receptors (P2 receptors) that stimulate microbicidal mechanisms in host innate immune cells. P2X ion channels and P2Y G protein-coupled receptors are involved in activating host innate immune defence mechanisms, phagocytosis, phagolysosomal fusion, production of reactive species, acidification of parasitophorous vacuoles, inflammasome activation, and the release of cytokines, chemokines, and other inflammatory mediators. In this review, as part of a special issue in tribute to Geoffrey Burnstock, we discuss advances in understanding the importance of P2 receptors in the host antimicrobial innate mechanisms against intracellular pathogen infections.

Purinergic signalling in endocrine organs

There is widespread involvement of purinergic signalling in endocrine biology. Pituitary cells express P1, P2X and P2Y receptor subtypes to mediate hormone release. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) regulates insulin release in the pancreas and is involved in the secretion of thyroid hormones. ATP plays a major role in the synthesis, storage and release of catecholamines from the adrenal gland. In the ovary purinoceptors mediate gonadotrophin-induced progesterone secretion, while in the testes, both Sertoli and Leydig cells express purinoceptors that mediate secretion of oestradiol and testosterone, respectively. ATP released as a cotransmitter with noradrenaline is involved in activities of the pineal gland and in the neuroendocrine control of the thymus. In the hypothalamus, ATP and adenosine stimulate or modulate the release of luteinising hormone-releasing hormone, as well as arginine-vasopressin and oxytocin. Functionally active P2X and P2Y receptors have been identified on human placental syncytiotrophoblast cells and on neuroendocrine cells in the lung, skin, prostate and intestine. Adipocytes have been recognised recently to have endocrine function involving purinoceptors.

Sociocommunicative and sensorimotor impairments in male P2X4-deficient mice

Purinergic P2X receptors are a family of ligand-gated ion channels gated by extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP). Of the seven P2X subtypes, P2X4 receptors (P2X4Rs) are richly expressed in the brain, yet their role in behavioral organization remains poorly understood. In this study, we examined the behavioral responses of P2X4R heterozygous (HZ) and knockout (KO) mice in a variety of testing paradigms designed to assess complementary aspects of sensory functions, emotional reactivity, and cognitive organization. P2X4R deficiency did not induce significant alterations of locomotor activity and anxiety-related indices in the novel open field and elevated plus-maze tests. Conversely, P2X4R KO mice displayed marked deficits in acoustic startle reflex amplitude, as well as significant sensorimotor gating impairments, as assessed by the prepulse inhibition of the startle. In addition, P2X4R KO mice displayed enhanced tactile sensitivity, as signified by a lower latency in the sticky-tape removal test. Moreover, both P2X4R HZ and KO mice showed significant reductions in social interaction and maternal separation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations in pups. Notably, brain regions of P2X4R KO mice exhibited significant brain-regional alterations in the subunit composition of glutamate ionotropic receptors. These results collectively document that P2X4-deficient mice exhibit a spectrum of phenotypic abnormalities partially akin to those observed in other murine models of autism-spectrum disorder. In conclusion, our findings highlight a putative role of P2X4Rs in the regulation of perceptual and sociocommunicative functions and point to these receptors as putative targets for disturbances associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.

P2X receptor channels in endocrine glands

The endocrine system is the system of ductless glands and single cells that synthetize hormones and release them directly into the bloodstream. Regulation of endocrine system is very complex and ATP and its degradable products ADP and adenosine contribute to its regulation acting as extracellular messengers for purinergic receptors. These include P2X receptors, a family of ligand-gated ion channels which expression and roles in endocrine tissues are reviewed here. There are seven mammalian purinergic receptor subunits, denoted P2X1 through P2X7, and the majority of these subunits are also expressed in secretory and non-secretory cells of endocrine system. Functional channels have been identified in the neuroendocrine hypothalamus, the posterior and anterior pituitary, the thyroid gland, the adrenals, the endocrine pancreas, the gonads and the placenta. Native channels are capable of promoting calcium influx through its pore in both excitable and non-excitable cells, as well as of increasing electrical activity in excitable cells by membrane depolarization. This leads to generation of calcium transients and stimulation of hormone release. The pattern of expression and action of P2XRs in endocrine system suggests that locally produced ATP amplifies and synchronizes the secretory responses of individual cells.

Purinergic signalling in the pancreas in health and disease

Pancreatic cells contain specialised stores for ATP. Purinergic receptors (P2 and P1) and ecto-nucleotidases are expressed in both endocrine and exocrine calls, as well as in stromal cells. The pancreas, especially the endocrine cells, were an early target for the actions of ATP. After the historical perspective of purinergic signalling in the pancreas, the focus of this review will be the physiological functions of purinergic signalling in the regulation of both endocrine and exocrine pancreas. Next, we will consider possible interaction between purinergic signalling and other regulatory systems and their relation to nutrient homeostasis and cell survival. The pancreas is an organ exhibiting several serious diseases - cystic fibrosis, pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and diabetes - and some are associated with changes in life-style and are increasing in incidence. There is upcoming evidence for the role of purinergic signalling in the pathophysiology of the pancreas, and the new challenge is to understand how it is integrated with other pathological processes.

Purines as potential morphogens during embryonic development

Components of purinergic signalling are expressed in the early embryo raising the possibility that ATP, ADP and adenosine may contribute to the mechanisms of embryonic development. We summarize the available data from four developmental models—mouse, chick, Xenopus and zebrafish. While there are some notable examples where purinergic signalling is indeed important during development, e.g. development of the eye in the frog, it is puzzling that deletion of single components of purinergic signalling often results in rather minor developmental phenotypes. We suggest that a key step in further analysis is to perform combinatorial alterations of expression of purinergic signalling components to uncover their roles in development. We introduce the concept that purinergic signalling could create novel morphogenetic fields to encode spatial location via the concentration of ATP, ADP and adenosine. We show that using minimal assumptions and the known properties of the ectonucleotidases, complex spatial patterns of ATP and adenosine can be set up. These patterns may provide a new way to assess the potential of purinergic signalling in developmental processes.

Dual effect of ATP on glucose-induced insulin secretion in HIT-T15 cells

OBJECTIVES

: The study investigated the dual effect of purinergic nucleotides on the secretion of insulin from pancreatic beta cells.

METHODS

: The level of insulin secretion in HIT-T15 cells of static incubation was measured using a radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

: The adenine nucleotides reduced the level of glucose-induced insulin secretion in a concentration-dependent manner, and the relative potency order (IC50; muM) was BzATP (6.9) > ATP (20.4) >/= alpha, beta-methylene ATP (23.3) >/= 2-methylthio-ATP (24.9). Suramin and PPADS (200 muM), which are blockers of the purinergic receptors, had a little influence on the activity of ATP. However, the inhibitory effect of ATP was reversed by preincubation with oxidized ATP (200 muM), which is a P2X7 antagonist. The level of insulin secretion in these preincubated cells exposed to the purinergic nucleotides increased in the following order: ATP > alpha, beta-methylene ATP >/= 2-methylthio-ATP. A pretreatment with foskolin and PDBu (100 nM) potentiated the increasing effect of ATP on insulin secretion. The Western blotting showed the expression of P2X7 and P2Y11 receptors.

CONCLUSIONS

: Purinergic stimulation has inhibitory activity on glucose-dependent insulin secretion through the activation of the P2X7 receptor, whereas it has enhancing effect through the activation of the P2Y11 receptor in HIT-T15 cells.

Purinergic receptors in the endocrine and exocrine pancreas

The pancreas is a complex gland performing both endocrine and exocrine functions. In recent years there has been increasing evidence that both endocrine and exocrine cells possess purinergic receptors, which influence processes such as insulin secretion and epithelial ion transport. Most commonly, these processes have been viewed separately. In beta cells, stimulation of P2Y(1) receptors amplifies secretion of insulin in the presence of glucose. Nucleotides released from secretory granules could also contribute to autocrine/paracrine regulation in pancreatic islets. In addition to P2Y(1) receptors, there is also evidence for other P2 and adenosine receptors in beta cells (P2Y(2), P2Y(4), P2Y(6), P2X subtypes and A(1) receptors) and in glucagon-secreting alpha cells (P2X(7), A(2) receptors). In the exocrine pancreas, acini release ATP and ATP-hydrolysing and ATP-generating enzymes. P2 receptors are prominent in pancreatic ducts, and several studies indicate that P2Y(2), P2Y(4), P2Y(11), P2X(4) and P2X(7) receptors could regulate secretion, primarily by affecting Cl(-) and K(+) channels and intracellular Ca(2+) signalling. In order to understand the physiology of the whole organ, it is necessary to consider the full complement of purinergic receptors on different cells as well as the structural and functional relation between various cells within the whole organ. In addition to the possible physiological function of purinergic receptors, this review analyses whether the receptors could be potential therapeutic targets for drug design aimed at treatment of pancreatic diseases.