title: Single-cell fura-2 microfluorometry reveals different purinoceptor subtypes coupled to Ca2+ influx and intracellular Ca2+ release in bovine adrenal chromaffin and endothelial cells.
abstract: ATP and adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine (Ap4A), released from adrenal chromaffin cells, are potent stimulators of endothelial cell function. Using single-cell fura-2 fluorescence recording techniques to measure free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), we have investigated the role of purinoceptor subtypes in the activation of cocultured chromaffin and endothelial cells. ATP evoked concentration-dependent [Ca2+]i rises (EC50 = 3.8 microM) in a subpopulation of chromaffin cells. Both ATP-sensitive and -insensitive cells were potently activated by nicotine, bradykinin and muscarine. Reducing extracellular free Ca2+ concentration to around 100 nM suppressed the [Ca2+]i transient evoked by ATP but not the [Ca2+]i response to bradykinin. ATP-sensitive chromaffin cells were also potently stimulated by 2-methylthioadenosine triphosphate (2MeSATP; EC50 = 12.5 microM) and UTP, but did not respond to either adenosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (ADP[beta S]), a P2Y receptor agonist, adenosine 5'-[alpha,beta-methylene]triphosphate (pp-[CH2]pA), a P2X agonist or AMP. Adrenal endothelial cells displayed concentration-dependent [Ca2+]i responses when stimulated with ATP (EC50 = 0.86 microM), UTP (EC50 = 1.6 microM) and 2MeSATP (EC50 = 0.38 microM). 2MeSATP behaved as a partial agonist. Ap4A and ADP[beta S] also raised the [Ca2+]i in endothelial cells, whereas AMP and pp[CH2]pA were ineffective. Lowering extracellular free Ca2+ to around 100 nM did not affect the peak ATP-evoked [Ca2+]i rise in these cells. It is concluded that different purinoceptor subtypes are heterogeneously distributed among the major cell types of the adrenal medulla. An intracellular Ca(2+)-releasing P2U-type purinoceptor is specifically localized to adrenal endothelial cells, while a subpopulation of chromaffin cells expresses a non-P2X, non-P2Y subtype exclusively coupled to Ca2+ influx.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tomé
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Miras-Portugal
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rosário
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002838:Chromaffin System / Q000378:metabolism*; D003592:Cytophotometry; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016257:Fura-2; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011983:Receptors, Purinergic; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2