Effects of ATP and adenosine addition on activity of oxoglutarate dehydrogenase and the concentration of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ in rat hepatocytes

Purinergic Signaling in Liver Pathophysiology

Extracellular nucleosides and nucleotides activate a group of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) known as purinergic receptors, comprising adenosine and P2Y receptors. Furthermore, purinergic P2X ion channels are activated by ATP. These receptors are expressed in liver resident cells and play a critical role in maintaining liver function. In the normal physiology, these receptors regulate hepatic metabolic processes such as insulin responsiveness, glycogen and lipid metabolism, and bile secretion. In disease states, ATP and other nucleotides serve as danger signals and modulate purinergic responses in the cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that purinergic receptors play a significant role in the development of metabolic syndrome associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver inflammation. In this concise review, we dissect the role of purinergic signaling in different liver resident cells involved in maintaining healthy liver function and in the development of the above-mentioned liver pathologies. Moreover, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies for liver diseases by targeting adenosine, P2Y and P2X receptors.

An Intermediary Role of Adenine Nucleotides on Free Fatty Acids-Induced Hyperglycemia in Obese Mice

Increased plasma free fatty acids (FFA) level plays a central role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Our previous studies have shown that plasma 5'-adenosine monophosphate (5'-AMP) elevates and acts as a potential upstream regulator of hyperglycemia in diabetic db/db mice. The relationship between FFA and plasma adenosine nucleotides in type 2 diabetes remains unclear. Here we found that plasma 5'-AMP level was also increased in diabetic mice induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (HFD-STZ), as observed in diabetic db/db mice. The metabolites of adenosine nucleotides in plasma were increased in obese mice compared to lean mice. An acute oil gavage to lean mice increased both FFA and plasma purine metabolites, accompanying with glucose intolerance. 5'-AMP administration resulted in an increase in dose-dependent purine metabolites and different levels of glucose intolerance. FFA induced a release of adenine nucleotides from cultural human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) prior to induction of their apoptosis. FFA also reduced red blood cells (RBCs) resistance to reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to hemolysis, thereby increasing plasma nucleotides. Our results suggest that plasma adenine nucleotides play an intermediary role in FFA-induced glucose intolerance and hyperglycemia in obese mice.

Purinergic signalling in the liver in health and disease

Purinergic signalling is involved in both the physiology and pathophysiology of the liver. Hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, stellate cells and cholangiocytes all express purinoceptor subtypes activated by adenosine, adenosine 5'-triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, uridine 5'-triphosphate or UDP. Purinoceptors mediate bile secretion, glycogen and lipid metabolism and indirectly release of insulin. Mechanical stress results in release of ATP from hepatocytes and Kupffer cells and ATP is also released as a cotransmitter with noradrenaline from sympathetic nerves supplying the liver. Ecto-nucleotidases play important roles in the signalling process. Changes in purinergic signalling occur in vascular injury, inflammation, insulin resistance, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, diabetes, hepatitis, liver regeneration following injury or transplantation and cancer. Purinergic therapeutic strategies for the treatment of these pathologies are being explored.

Purinergic signaling in liver disease

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is essential for the myriad of metabolic processes upon which life is based and is known widely as the universal energy currency unit of intracellular biologic reactions. ATP, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine, as well as other purines and pyrimidines also serve as ubiquitous extracellular mediators which function through the activation of specific receptors (viz. P2 receptors for nucleotides and purinergic P1 receptors for adenosine). Extracellular nucleotides are rapidly converted to nucleosides, such as adenosine, by highly regulated plasma membrane ectonucleotidases that modulate many of the normal biological and metabolic processes in the liver - such as gluconeogenesis and insulin signaling. Under inflammatory conditions, as with ischemia reperfusion, sepsis or metabolic stress, ATP and other nucleotides can also act as 'damage-associated molecular patterns' causing inflammasome activation in innate immune cells and endothelium resulting in tissue damage. The phosphohydrolysis of ATP by ectonucleotidases, such as those of the CD39/ENTPD family, results in the generation of immune suppressive adenosine, which in turn markedly limits inflammatory processes. Experimental studies by others and our group have implicated purinergic signaling in experimental models of hepatic ischemia reperfusion and inflammation, transplant rejection, hepatic regeneration, steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cancer, amongst others. Expression of ectonucleotidases on sinusoidal endothelial, stellate or immune cells allows for homeostatic integration and linking of the control of vascular inflammatory and immune cell reactions in the liver. CD39 expression also identifies hepatic myeloid dendritic cells and efficiently distinguishes T-regulatory-type cells from other resting or activated T cells. Our evolving data strongly indicate that CD39 serves as a key 'molecular switch' and is an integral component of the suppressive machinery of myeloid, dendritic and T cells. Increased understanding of mechanisms of extracellular ATP scavenging and specifically conversion to nucleosides by ectonucleotidases of the CD39 family have also led to novel insights into the exquisite balance of nucleotide P2-receptor and adenosinergic P1-receptor signaling in inflammatory and hepatic diseases. Further, CD39 and other ectonucleotidases exhibit genetic polymorphisms in humans which alter levels of expression/function and are associated with predisposition to inflammatory and immune diseases, diabetes and vascular calcification, amongst other problems. Development of therapeutic strategies targeting purinergic signaling and ectonucleotidases offers promise for the management of disordered inflammation and aberrant immune reactivity.

Adenosine stimulates calcium influx in isolated rat hepatocytes

The mechanism of stimulation of Ca2+ entry into hepatocytes by adenosine was investigated. When Fura-2-loaded hepatocytes were suspended in a nominally Ca(2+)-free buffer, adenosine produced only a small transient increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+)i). However, on restoration of an extracellular Ca2+ concentration of 1.3 mM, a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i occurred, which indicates activation of a Ca(2+)-influx pathway. Adenosine augmented the rate of Ca2+ influx triggered by maximally effective concentrations of thapsigargin or cAMP, but was without effect on the rate of Ca2+ entry that resulted from phospholipase-C-linked-receptor activation by maximally effective concentrations of vasopressin or ATP. However, in contrast to vasopression and ATP, adenosine did not stimulate Mn2+ entry. The rate of Mn2+ influx after stimulation of the hepatocytes with vasopressin was not increased by adenosine treatment. The stimulation of hepatocytes with adenosine did not result in significant accumulation of inositol phosphates or cAMP. Furthermore, the rate of adenosine-induced Ca2+ entry in hepatocytes was only slightly reduced in the presence of the P1 purinoceptor antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline. In contrast, the receptor-mediated-Ca(2+)-entry antagonist SK&F 96365 nearly completely blocked the Ca(2+)-entry response without any effect on internal-Ca(2+)-pool mobilisation by adenosine. It is concluded that adenosine activates the internal-pool-regulated pathway of Ca2+ entry and an additional pathway that appears comparable to the previously reported receptor-dependent pathway, except that Mn2+ entry is not stimulated.

Adenosine inhibits protein synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes. Evidence for a lack of involvement of intracellular calcium in the mechanism of inhibition

Extracellularly added adenosine and ATP are potent inhibitors of protein synthesis in liver cells. In this study, the possible involvement of Ca2+ in the mechanism of inhibition of protein synthesis by adenosine was investigated. Stimulation of freshly isolated hepatocytes with adenosine or ATP, at concentrations that impaired protein synthesis, induced an increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). However, there was no correlation between the increase in [Ca2+]i and inhibition of radiolabelled leucine incorporation into proteins. Thus, the stimulation of hepatocytes with the V1-receptor agonist, vasopressin, or with the nucleotide triphosphates, UTP and GTP, elicited changes in [Ca2+]i similar to those observed after ATP or adenosine addition, but did not affect protein synthesis. ATP produced near complete discharge of Ca2+ from the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca2+ pool in isolated hepatocytes, whereas adenosine only had a partial effect. Depletion of the hormone-sensitive Ca2+ pool by adenosine was transient. In contrast, prolonged depletion of internal Ca2+ by thapsigargin resulted in the inhibition of protein synthesis in hepatocytes. However, the inhibition of radiolabelled leucine incorporation into proteins by thapsigargin was further augmented by the additional presence of adenosine. These results show that the inhibition of protein synthesis by adenosine in isolated hepatocytes is not mediated by an increase in [Ca2+]i or depletion of internal pool(s) sensitive to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate or thapsigargin.

Gluconeogenesis stimulated by extracellular ATP is triggered by the initial increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration of the periphery of hepatocytes

Extracellular ATP, ADP and GTP increased the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in a suspension of isolated rat hepatocytes. The [Ca2+]i was determined by measuring fura-2 fluorescence, and its increase was biphasic. The initial transient rise was followed by a longer-lasting plateau. The peak of the early component preceded the plateau level of the second component. A time course of change in [Ca2+]i in single cells at 100 microM-ATP was very similar to that observed in the suspension system. Preincubation of hepatocytes with 40 mM-caffeine, 2 mM-oxalate or 60 microM-dantrolene sodium inhibited the P2 purinergic response. The plateau phase was not observed when measured in the presence of extracellular 100 microM-LaCl3 or in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. The distribution of [Ca2+]i in single hepatocytes was also determined by fluorescence image analysis. In the initial phase, the increase in [Ca2+]i is greater in the peripheral region than the central region of the cell. Degradation of extracellular ATP by ecto-ATPase in the hepatocyte suspension was measured; the amount of ATP degradation was less than 10-15% of the initial amount (100 microM) during the measurement of the intracellular [Ca2+]i in the cell suspension. Extracellular ATP stimulated glucose synthesis. The rate of glucose production also showed two components, the initial fast component within 1 min and the subsequent slower component. The rate of the initial fast component did not depend on the presence or absence of extracellular Ca2+, whereas the rate of the subsequent component depended on it. The present study shows that the initial transient rise in [Ca2+]i plays an important role in triggering the gluconeogenesis.

Regulation of cell volume in the perfused rat liver by hormones

The effect of hormones on cell volume was studied in isolated perfused rat liver by assessing the intracellular water space as the difference between a [3H]inulin- and a [14C]urea-accessible space. The intracellular water space (control value 559 +/- 7 microliters/g of liver; n = 88) increased on addition of insulin (35 nM) or phenylephrine (5 microM) by 12 or 8% respectively, whereas it decreased with cyclic AMP (cAMP; 50 microM), glucagon (100 nM) or adenosine (50 microM) by 9, 13 or 6% respectively. Both insulin and glucagon exerted half-maximal effects on cell volume and cellular K+ balance at hormone concentrations found physiologically in the portal vein. Adenosine-induced cell shrinkage was explained by a net K+ release from the liver. Phenylephrine (5 microM) led to cell swelling by about 8%, which was additive to insulin-induced swelling. Extracellular ATP (20 microM) induced cell shrinkage by about 6%; this was additive to adenosine-induced shrinkage. Vasopressin (15 nM) did not appreciably change cell volume, but induced marked cell shrinkage when glucagon or cAMP was present. Insulin- and phenylephrine-induced cell swelling was counteracted by cAMP. Hormone-induced changes of intracellular water space could sufficiently explain accompanying liver mass changes induced by glucagon, cAMP, adenosine or vasopressin, but not those by phenylephrine and extracellular ATP. The data show that liver cell volume is subject to hormonal regulation, in part owing to modification of cellular K+ balance. Glucagon- and insulin-induced cell volume changes occur already in the presence of physiological hormone concentrations. The effects of Ca2(+)-mobilizing hormones on cell volume are not uniform. In view of the recently established role of cell volume changes in modulating liver cell function, the present findings open a new perspective on the mechanisms of hormone action in liver, underlining our previous hypothesis that cell volume changes may represent a 'second messenger' of hormone action.

Stimulation of release of prostaglandin D2 and thromboxane B2 from perfused rat liver by extracellular adenosine

In isolated perfused rat liver, adenosine infusion (50 microM) led to increases in glucose output and portal pressure and a net K+ release of 3.7 +/- 0.21 mumol/g, which was followed by an equivalent net K+ uptake after cessation of the nucleoside infusion. These effects were accompanied by a transient stimulation of hepatic prostaglandin D2 and thromboxane B2 release. The Ca2+ release observed upon adenosine infusion (50 microM) was 23.5 +/- 5.2 nmol/g, i.e. 10-20% of the Ca2+ release observed with extracellular ATP (50 microM). Indomethacin (10 microM) prevented the adenosine-induced stimulation of glucose output and the increase in portal pressure by 79 and 63% respectively, and completely abolished the stimulation of prostaglandin D2 release. The thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist BM 13.177 (20 microM), the phospholipase A2 inhibitor 4-bromophenacyl bromide (20 microM) and the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor ibuprofen (50 microM) also decreased the glycogenolytic and vasoconstrictive responses of the perfused rat liver upon adenosine infusion by 50-80%. When the indomethacin inhibition of adenosine-induced prostaglandin D2 release was titrated, a close correlation between prostaglandin D2 release and the metabolic and vascular responses to adenosine was observed. These findings suggest an important role for eicosanoids in mediating the nucleoside responses in the perfused rat liver. Since eicosanoids are known to be formed by non-parenchymal cells in rat liver [Decker (1985) Semin. Liver Dis. 5, 175-190], the present study gives further evidence for an important role of eicosanoids as signal molecules between the different liver cell populations.

The role of nonparenchymal and parenchymal liver cells in the catabolism of extracellular purines

Adenosine-degrading enzymes within the liver lobule can modulate both vascular and metabolic effects of circulating adenosine in the liver. Since it has not been fully established whether nonparenchymal cells participate in the elimination of sinusoidal purines, isolated Kupffer cells and endothelial cells were tested for their capacity to degrade extracellular purines. After perfusion and digestion of rat livers by collagenase, the resulting mixed cell population was separated by centrifugal elutriation. The isolated parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells were incubated for up to 2 hr in the presence of [8(-14)C]adenosine, [8(-14)C]guanosine and [8(-14)C]hypoxanthine (50 mumoles per liter). In the deproteinized medium, adenosine, guanosine, inosine, adenine, guanine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, uric acid and allantoin were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Radioactive peaks were collected and counted. Nonparenchymal cells catalyzed the degradation of adenosine into inosine and hypoxanthine. However, the formation of xanthine, uric acid or allantoin from adenosine could only be detected in hepatocyte suspensions. Within 15 min, adenosine was completely eliminated from the medium by Kupffer cells, whereas endothelial cells catabolized only less than half of the initial amount of the adenine nucleoside during this time period. Accordingly, incubation of nonparenchymal cells in the presence of hypoxanthine did not result in the formation of further breakdown products of the purine, whereas its catabolites slowly accumulated in the medium of hepatocytes. Guanosine conversion into guanine and xanthine was much slower in endothelial cells as compared to Kupffer cells and hepatocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activation of potassium channels in renal epithelioid cells (MDCK) by extracellular ATP

Extracellular ATP has been shown to stimulate transepithelial chloride transport in confluent Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell layers and to enhance potassium conductance in subconfluent MDCK cells. The present study has been performed to test for the effect of extracellular ATP on channel activity in patches from subconfluent MDCK cells. Within 8 s, addition of extracellular ATP (10 mumol/l) leads to a sustained, but fully reversible, appearance of potassium-selective channels in cell-attached patches [increase of open probability from 0.03 +/- 0.02 (n = 10) to 0.50 +/- 0.07 (n = 6)]. With the use of pipettes filled with 145 mmol/l KCl, inwardly rectifying property of the channels is disclosed with a single-channel conductance of 65.7 +/- 3.1 pS (n = 9) at zero potential difference between pipette and bath and with a reversal potential of 75.4 +/- 2.0 mV (n = 5; pipette negative vs. reference in the bath). The open probability of the channels is not significantly modified by altering pipette potential from -50 mV, pipette positive, to 50 mV, pipette negative. At extracellular calcium activities of less than 10 nmol/l, ATP leads to a transient activation of channels. In conclusion, extracellular ATP activates inwardly rectifying potassium channels in the cell membrane of subconfluent MDCK cells. A sustained activation of the channels requires the presence of extracellular calcium and is probably mediated by increases in intracellular calcium.

Origin, metabolism and function of extracellular adenine nucleotides in the blood

In previous views the role of adenine nucleotides was thought to be confined to the intracellular space of the cell. However, research of the last decades has revealed that nucleotides also occur in the extracellular space. This survey deals with the sources, metabolism and the role in blood of the extracellular adenine mononucleotides ATP, ADP, AMP and the dinucleotides diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) and diadenosine triphosphate (Ap3A). The latter two are novel compounds, which have recently been discovered in human platelets. The mononucleotides originate from damaged tissues, from red blood cells during haemolysis, from activated platelets, the working muscle and from the nervous system, whereas the dinucleotides are exclusively released from stimulated platelets. Both the adenine mono- and the dinucleotides act as signal molecules on blood cells as well as on cells of the vascular wall, thereby modulating physiological processes such as platelet aggregation, histamine release from mast cells, regulation of vascular tone and white cell functions. In order to limit the signal effects of extracellular nucleotides, blood cells, plasma and the interior of the vessel walls are provided with nucleotide splitting enzymes: ATP, ADP and AMP are mainly degraded by ectoenzymes present on blood cells, endothelial and on smooth muscle cells, whereas dinucleotides are primarily metabolized by plasma enzymes. This review closes with the presentation of the clinical utility of Ap3A and Ap4A as tools for the diagnosis of platelet storage pool defects.

Regulation of hepatic parenchymal and non-parenchymal cell function by the diadenine nucleotides Ap3A and Ap4A

The diadenine nucleotides diadenosine 5',5"-P1,P3-triphosphate (Ap3A) and diadenosine 5',5"-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) can be released from platelets and were shown to act as long-lived signal molecules. Accordingly, we studied their potential effect on hepatic metabolism. In isolated perfused rat liver, Ap3A and Ap4A increase the portal pressure, lead to a transient net release of Ca2+, complex net K+ movement across the liver plasma membrane and stimulate hepatic glucose output and 14CO2 production from [1-14C]glutamate. These responses resemble that obtained with extracellular ATP. This and studies on the additivity of ATP and Ap4A effects suggest similar mechanisms mediating the ATP and diadenine nucleotide effects in the liver. Ap3A and Ap4A increased the activity of glycogen phosphorylase a in isolated hepatocyte suspensions by about 100%, pointing to a direct effect of these nucleotides on hepatic parenchymal cells. A response of hepatic non-parenchymal cells to diadenine nucleotide infusion is suggested by a marked stimulation of thromboxane and prostaglandin D2 release from perfused liver. Studies with the thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist BM 13.177 (20 microM) show that the pressure and glucose response to the diadenine nucleotides is partially mediated by this thromboxane formation. Studies with retrograde and sequential liver perfusions suggest a less efficient degradation of the diadenine nucleotides during a single liver passage compared to extracellular ATP. The data suggest that Ap3A and Ap4A are potential regulators of hepatic hemodynamics and metabolism, involving complex interactions between hepatic parenchymal cells and hepatic non-parenchymal cells, including eicosanoids as signal molecules.

Evidence indicating that the glucagon-induced increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration in hepatocytes is mediated by an increase in cyclic AMP concentration

The mechanism whereby glucagon causes an increase in the concentration of cytoplasmic free Ca2+, [Ca2+]c, in isolated hepatocytes has been investigated. There have been proposals of cyclic-AMP-dependent and cyclic-AMP-independent mechanisms. In this work, the inactivation of pyruvate kinase was used as an indicator of increases in the activity of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase, A-kinase. [Ca2+]c was measured using the fluorescent probe indo-1. The decrease in activity of pyruvate kinase caused by an increase in [Ca2+]c alone, i.e. mediated by mechanisms not involving cyclic AMP and exemplified by the effect of vasopressin, was of minimal significance under the conditions of the enzyme assay. Studies of the effects of a wide range of glucagon concentrations indicate that any increase in [Ca2+]c caused by glucagon was always associated with a decrease in pyruvate kinase activity. A similar relationship was obtained if glucagon-receptor occupancy was circumvented by using the 8-bromo-derivative of cyclic AMP to activate the A-kinase. It was also found that the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine could potentiate the ability of glucagon to increase [Ca2+]c: no such potentiation was observed when vasopressin was used to raise [Ca2+]c. Together these data indicate that an increase in cyclic AMP concentration, sufficiently great to activate A-kinase, is a mechanism that mediates the glucagon-induced increase in [Ca2+]c.

Enhancement of intracellular calcium concentration by extracellular ATP and UTP in Madin Darby Canine Kidney cells

Fura2 - fluorescence was utilized to test for the effect of extracellular nucleotides on intracellular calcium concentration of subconfluent Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK)-cells. Extracellular ATP (10 mumol/l) and UTP (10 mumol/l) lead to rapid (within seconds), sustained, and fully reversible enhancement of intracellular calcium concentration from 138 +/- 9 nmol/l (n = 27), to 1561 +/- 260 nmol/l (n = 10) and 3435 +/- 949 nmol/l (n = 5), respectively. Half maximal effects are observed at some 1 mumol/l. In the absence of extracellular calcium the effect of ATP is transient, pointing to release of intracellular calcium. The sustained effect in the presence of extracellular calcium indicates that the nucleotides in addition recruit calcium from extracellular space.

Effects of extracellular nucleotides on electrical properties of subconfluent Madin Darby canine kidney cells

ATP and ADP but not AMP lead to sustained hyperpolarization of Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The present study has been performed to test for an influence of other nucleotides on the potential difference across the cell membrane (PD) in subconfluent MDCK cells. PD has been continuously monitored with conventional microelectrodes during rapid exchange of extracellular fluid. Application of 1 mumol/1 UTP leads to a rapid (less than 2 s) hyperpolarization of the cell membrane by -17.0 +/- 0.4 mV (from -50.1 +/- 0.6 mV), a reduction of cell membrane resistance and an increase of the sensitivity of PD to alterations of extracellular potassium. The concentration needed for half maximal effect of UTP is approximately equal to 0.2 mumol/1. ITP is similarly effective, whereas UDP, GTP and GDP are less effective. Up to 1 mmol/1 UMP, GMP, TTP or CTP do not significantly alter PD. In calcium-free extracellular fluid the hyperpolarizing effect of UTP is blunted (-11.6 +/- 2.3 mV) and only transient. In conclusion, UTP similar to purine triphosphates hyperpolarizes MDCK cells by increasing the potassium conductance. The activation of potassium channels requires calcium, which is apparently recruited from both intra- and extracellular sources.

Hepatocyte heterogeneity in response to extracellular ATP

1. The metabolic and hemodynamic effects of extracellular ATP in perfused rat liver were compared during physiologically antegrade (portal to hepatic vein) and retrograde (hepatic to portal vein) perfusion. ATP in concentrations up to 100 microM was completely hydrolyzed during a single liver passage regardless of the perfusion direction. 2. The ATP(20 microM)-induced increases of glucose output, perfusion pressure and ammonium ion release seen during antegrade perfusions were diminished by 85-95% when the perfusion was in the retrograde direction, whereas the amount of Ca2+ mobilized from the liver was decreased by only 60%. The maximal rate of initial K+ uptake following ATP was dependent on the amount of Ca2+ mobilized regardless of the direction of perfusion. In the presence of UMP (1 mM), an inhibitor of ATP hydrolysis by membrane-bound nucleotide pyrophosphatase, the effect of the direction of perfusion on the glycogenolytic response to ATP (20 microM) was largely diminished. 3. For a maximal response of glucose output, Ca2+ release and perfusion pressure to extracellular ATP, concentrations of about 20 microM, 50 microM and 100 microM were required during antegrade perfusion, respectively. These maximal responses could also be obtained during retrograde perfusion, but higher ATP concentrations were required (120 microM, 80 microM, above 200 microM, respectively). 4. 14CO2 production from [1-14C]glutamate which occurs predominantly in the perivenous hepatocytes capable of glutamine synthesis was stimulated by extracellular ATP (20 microM); it was only slightly affected by the direction of perfusion. In antegrade perfusions, ATP (20 microM) increased 14CO2 production from 88 to 162 nmol g-1 min-1, compared to an increase from 91 to 148 nmol g-1 min-1 in retrograde perfusion. 5. The data are interpreted to suggest that (a) extracellular ATP is predominantly hydrolyzed by a small hepatocyte population located at the perivenous outflow of the acinus; (b) glycogenolysis to glucose is predominantly localized in the periportal area; (c) contractile elements (sphincters) exist near the inflow of the sinusoidal bed; (d) a considerable portion of the Ca2+ mobilized by ATP is derived from liver cells that do not contribute to hepatic glucose output.

Prostaglandin responses in isolated perfused rat liver: Ca2+ and K+ fluxes, hemodynamic and metabolic effects

Addition of prostaglandin F2 alpha and prostaglandin E2 to isolated perfused rat liver led to a dose-dependent, transient net Ca2+ release, which was completed within 3 min. Withdrawal of the prostaglandins resulted in a Ca2+ re-uptake over a period of about 10 min. Simultaneously, these prostaglandins induced an increase of portal pressure, stimulated hepatic glucose output and 14CO2 production from [1-14C]glutamate and led to K+ movements across the hepatocyte plasma membrane similar to those observed with other Ca2+-mobilizing agents. With prostaglandin F2 alpha there was a close correlation between the net Ca2+ release and the maximal rate of initial net K+ uptake by the liver (linear regression coefficient r = 0.902; n = 20). Prostaglandin F2 alpha was more effective than prostaglandin E2 or D2. Because prostaglandins are known to be produced by hepatic non-parenchymal cells during stimulation by phagocytosis or by addition of extracellular ATP or UTP, these data suggest an interaction between non-parenchymal and parenchymal liver cells and point to a modulating role of prostaglandins in hepatic metabolism and microcirculation, which is mediated by Ca2+-mobilizing mechanisms.

Actions of extracellular UTP and ATP in perfused rat liver. A comparative study

1. In perfused rat liver infusion of UTP and ATP in micromolar concentrations increased the portal pressure, with UTP being three times more effective than ATP at concentrations below 50 microM. Whereas ATP (up to 100 microM) increased oxygen consumption, there was a dose-dependent inhibition of oxygen uptake by UTP. 2. Both nucleotides stimulated hepatic glucose output; however, the time-courses were different. Withdrawal of UTP, but not of ATP (up to 100 microM) caused a further transient, but substantial stimulation of glucose output. 3. ATP led to a transient net K+ uptake by the liver being followed by a K+-release phase. Similar changes were observed with UTP; however, the initial K+ uptake was prolonged compared to ATP (1.9 min versus 3.5 min) and withdrawal of UTP, but not of ATP, stimulated hepatic K+ release markedly. 4. Metabolic and hemodynamic effects comparable to those induced by ATP were obtained with beta- and gamma-thio substituted ATP, whereas beta,gamma-methylene-substituted ATP was much less effective. The characteristic effects of UTP on glucose output, portal pressure and K+ fluxes were preserved during constant infusion of ATP or its beta,gamma-methylene derivative, pointing to additive effects. 5. ATP (20 microM) led to a net Ca2+ release (50-60 nmol/g liver) within 2-3 min. When the extracellular Ca2+ concentration was lowered from 1.25 mM to 0.3 mM, this Ca2+ release was increased to about 110 nmol/g liver whereby its time course remained largely unchanged. With 1.25 mM Ca2+, UTP induced Ca2+ movements only near the detection level (i.e. below 10-20 nmol/g liver); however, with 0.3 mM Ca2+ in influent perfusate, there was a slow Ca2+ release (not completed within 5-6 min). The maximal rates of Ca2+ efflux following ATP and UTP (20 microM each) were 70 nmol and 30 nmol g-1 min-1. Withdrawal of UTP led to a short Ca2+ release superimposing a phase of net Ca2+ uptake. 6. The data show that extracellular UTP is a potential and effective regulator of hepatic metabolism, ion fluxes across the hepatocyte membrane and hemodynamics. Compared to ATP, UTP seems to be more effective and the responses to both nucleotides are different. The data suggest that the action of UTP could involve a receptor distinct from the purinergic P2 receptor, whereas the ATP action involves predominantly the P2Y purinoceptor subtype.