title: ATP-mediated cytotoxicity in microglial cells.
abstract: Microglial cells are known to express purinergic receptors for extracellular ATP of both the P2Y and P2X subtypes. Functional studies have shown that both primary mouse microglial cells and the N9 and N13 microglial cell lines express the pore-forming P2Z/P2X7 receptor. Here we identify the presence of this receptor in N9 and N13 cells with a specific polyclonal Ab and show that microglial cells expressing the P2Z/P2X7 receptor are exquisitively sensitive to ATP-mediated cytotoxicity while clones selected for the lack of this receptor are resistant. Transfection of HEK293 cells with P2X7 (but not P2X2) receptor cDNA confers susceptibility to ATP-mediated cytotoxicity. Morphological and biochemical analysis suggests that ATP-dependent cell death in microglial cells occurs by apoptosis. Finally, microglial cells release ATP via a non-lytic mechanism when activated by bacterial endotoxin, thus suggesting the operation of a purinergic autocrine/paracrine loop.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Pathology, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiozzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falzoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dal Susino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Collo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buell
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Virgilio
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000378:metabolism; D058476:Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C546402:P2rx2 protein, mouse; C546469:P2rx7 protein, mouse; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058476:Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase