Cross desensitizations on contractions by P2-agonists of guinea pig ileum

Purinergic signalling in the gastrointestinal tract and related organs in health and disease

Purinergic signalling plays major roles in the physiology and pathophysiology of digestive organs. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), together with nitric oxide and vasoactive intestinal peptide, is a cotransmitter in non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory neuromuscular transmission. P2X and P2Y receptors are widely expressed in myenteric and submucous enteric plexuses and participate in sympathetic transmission and neuromodulation involved in enteric reflex activities, as well as influencing gastric and intestinal epithelial secretion and vascular activities. Involvement of purinergic signalling has been identified in a variety of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, ischaemia, diabetes and cancer. Purinergic mechanosensory transduction forms the basis of enteric nociception, where ATP released from mucosal epithelial cells by distension activates nociceptive subepithelial primary afferent sensory fibres expressing P2X3 receptors to send messages to the pain centres in the central nervous system via interneurons in the spinal cord. Purinergic signalling is also involved in salivary gland and bile duct secretion.

Activation of P2Y receptors by ATP and by its analogue, ADPbetaS, triggers two calcium signal pathways in the longitudinal muscle of mouse distal colon

Our previous research showed that ATP and adenosine 5'-O-2-thiodiphosphate (ADPbetaS) induce contractile effects in the longitudinal muscle of mouse distal colon via activation of P2Y receptors which are not P2Y(1) or P2Y(12) subtypes. This study investigated the nature of the P2Y receptor subtype(s) and the mechanisms leading to the intracellular calcium concentration increase necessary to trigger muscular contraction. Motor responses of mouse colonic longitudinal muscle to P2Y receptor agonists were examined in vitro as changes in isometric tension. ATP or ADPbetaS induced muscular contraction, which was not affected by P2Y(11) or P2Y(13) selective antagonists. Calcium-free solution or the calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, failed to modify the contractile responses to ATP or ADPbetaS, which were virtually abolished by depletion of calcium intracellular stores after repetitive addition of carbachol in calcium-free medium with addition of cyclopiazonic acid. Neomycin or U-73122, phospholipase C inhibitors, or 2-aminoethoxy-diphenylborate (2-APB), membrane-permeant IP(3) receptor inhibitor reduced the response to ATP, whilst ryanodine or ruthenium red, inhibiting calcium release from ryanodine-sensitive stores, abolished the response to ADPbetaS. Responses to maximally effective concentrations of ATP and ADPbetaS were not fully additive. Desensitisation with ADPbetaS antagonized the contractile effects of ATP, as desensitisation with ATP antagonized the response to ADPbetaS. In the longitudinal muscle of mouse distal colon, ATP and ADPbetaS induce muscular contraction via a P2Y receptor, coupled to differential signal pathways leading to intracellular calcium increase.

Evidence that ATP or a related purine is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the longitudinal muscle of mouse distal colon

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study analysed the contribution of the purinergic system to enteric neurotransmission in the longitudinal muscle of mouse distal colon.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Motor responses to exogenous ATP and to nerve stimulation in vitro were assessed as changes in isometric tension.

KEY RESULTS

ATP induced a concentration-dependent contraction, reduced by 4-[[4-formyl-5-hydroxy-6-methyl-3-[(phosphonooxy)methyl]-2-pyridinyl]azo]-1,3-benzene disulphonic acid (PPADS), suramin, P2Y purinoreceptor desensitisation with adenosine 5'-O-2-thiodiphosphate (ADPbetaS), and atropine, but unaffected by P2X purinoceptor desensitisation with alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha,beta-meATP) and by 2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid 3-(2-chloro-6-methylaminopurin-9-yl)-2-(2,2-dimethyl-propionyloxymethyl)-propyl ester (MRS 2395), a P2Y(12) selective antagonist. The response to ATP was increased by 2'-deoxy-N(6)-methyl adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate (MRS 2179), a P2Y(1) selective antagonist, tetrodotoxin (TTX) or N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). ADPbetaS, a P2Y-purinergic agonist, induced muscular contraction, with the same pharmacological profile as the ATP-induced contraction. ADP, a natural ligand for P2Y(1) receptors, induced muscular relaxation, antagonized by MRS 2179 and by TTX or L-NAME. Nerve stimulation elicited a transient nitrergic relaxation, followed by contraction. Contractile responses was reduced by atropine, PPADS, suramin, P2Y purinoceptor desensitisation, but not by P2X purinoceptor desensitisation, MRS 2179 or MRS 2395. None of the purinergic antagonists modified the nerve-evoked relaxation.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

In the longitudinal muscle of mouse distal colon, ATP, through ADPbetaS-sensitive P2Y purinoceptors, contributed to the excitatory neurotransmission acting directly on smooth muscle and indirectly via activation of cholinergic neurons. Moreover, P2Y1 purinoceptors appear to be located on nitrergic inhibitory neurons. This study provides new insights into the role of purines in the mechanism inducing intestinal transit in mouse colon.

Evidence for the presence of P2y and P2x receptors with different functions in mouse stomach

To clarify the function of P2 receptor subtypes in mouse stomach, the motor responses to ATP, alpha,beta-methyleneATP (alpha,beta-MeATP), P2X receptor agonist, 2-methylthioATP (2-MeSATP), P2Y receptor agonist, and the effects of the desensitisation of P2X receptors with alpha,beta-MeATP and of P2Y receptors with ADPbetaS were analysed recording the endoluminal pressure from whole-organ. ATP-induced relaxation was antagonised by suramin, non-selective P2 receptor antagonist, by desensitisation of P2Y receptors with ADPbetaS, and increased by desensitisation of P2X receptors with alpha,beta-MeATP. alpha,beta-MeATP produced biphasic responses: relaxation, reduced by P2X- or P2Y desensitisation, and contraction, almost abolished by P2X desensitisation and potentiated by P2Y desensitisation. 2-MeSATP induced relaxation, which was antagonised by P2Y desensitisation and increased by P2X desensitisation. Tetrodotoxin increased the relaxation induced by purines and deeply antagonised the contraction to alpha,beta-MeATP. Our results suggest that in mouse stomach are present muscular P2Y receptors, subserving relaxation, and neuronal presynaptic P2X receptors, mediating contraction.

Cellular Distribution and Functions of P2 Receptor Subtypes in Different Systems

This review is aimed at providing readers with a comprehensive reference article about the distribution and function of P2 receptors in all the organs, tissues, and cells in the body. Each section provides an account of the early history of purinergic signaling in the organ?cell up to 1994, then summarizes subsequent evidence for the presence of P2X and P2Y receptor subtype mRNA and proteins as well as functional data, all fully referenced. A section is included describing the plasticity of expression of P2 receptors during development and aging as well as in various pathophysiological conditions. Finally, there is some discussion of possible future developments in the purinergic signaling field.