Nucleotide transmitters ATP and ADP mediate intercellular calcium wave communication via P2Y12/13 receptors among BV-2 microglia

PLoS One. 2017 Aug 11;12(8):e0183114. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183114. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Nerve injury is accompanied by a liberation of diverse nucleotides, some of which act as 'find/eat-me' signals in mediating neuron-glial interplay. Intercellular Ca2+ wave (ICW) communication is the main approach by which glial cells interact and coordinate with each other to execute immune defense. However, the detailed mechanisms on how these nucleotides participate in ICW communication remain largely unclear. In the present work, we employed a mechanical stimulus to an individual BV-2 microglia to simulate localized injury. Remarkable ICW propagation was observed no matter whether calcium was in the environment or not. Apyrase (ATP/ADP-hydrolyzing enzyme), suramin (broad-spectrum P2 receptor antagonist), 2-APB (IP3 receptor blocker) and thapsigargin (endoplasmic reticulum calcium pump inhibitor) potently inhibited these ICWs, respectively, indicating the dependence of nucleotide signals and P2Y receptors. Then, we detected the involvement of five naturally occurring nucleotides (ATP, ADP, UTP, UDP and UDP-glucose) by desensitizing receptors. Results showed that desensitization with ATP and ADP could block ICW propagation in a dose-dependent manner, whereas other nucleotides had little effect. Meanwhile, the expression of P2Y receptors in BV-2 microglia was identified and their contributions were analyzed, from which we suggested P2Y12/13 receptors activation mostly contributed to ICWs. Besides, we estimated that extracellular ATP and ADP concentration sensed by BV-2 microglia was about 0.3 μM during ICWs by analyzing calcium dynamic characteristics. Taken together, these results demonstrated that the nucleotides ATP and ADP were predominant signal transmitters in mechanical stimulation-induced ICW communication through acting on P2Y12/13 receptors in BV-2 microglia.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Diphosphate / metabolism*
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Apyrase / pharmacology
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Boron Compounds / pharmacology
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium Signaling / drug effects
  • Cell Communication / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Gene Expression
  • Inositol Phosphates / pharmacology
  • Mechanotransduction, Cellular / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Microglia / cytology
  • Microglia / drug effects
  • Microglia / metabolism*
  • Molecular Imaging
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2 / genetics
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12 / genetics
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12 / metabolism*
  • Suramin / pharmacology
  • Thapsigargin / pharmacology

Substances

  • 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate
  • Boron Compounds
  • Inositol Phosphates
  • P2ry12 protein, mouse
  • P2ry13 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12
  • inositol 3-phosphate
  • Suramin
  • Adenosine Diphosphate
  • Thapsigargin
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Apyrase
  • Calcium

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 11574165), the PCSIRT (Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University) (no. IRT_13R29), the 111 Project (no. B07013). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.