title: The A3 adenosine receptor mediates cell spreading, reorganization of actin cytoskeleton, and distribution of Bcl-XL: studies in human astroglioma cells.
abstract: The pathophysiological role of the adenosine A3 receptor in the central nervous system is largely unknown. We have investigated the effects of the selective A3 receptor agonist 2-chloro-N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine, Cl-IB-MECA, in cells of the astroglial lineage (human astrocytoma ADF cells). A marked reorganization of the cytoskeleton, with appearance of stress fibers and numerous cell protrusions, was found following exposure of cells to low (nM) concentrations of Cl-IB-MECA. These "trophic" effects were accompanied by induction of the expression of Rho, a small GTP-binding protein, which was virtually absent in control cells, and by changes of the intracellular distribution of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-XL, that, in agonist-exposed cells, became specifically associated to cell protrusions. This is the first demonstration that the intracellular organization of Bcl-XL can be modulated by the activation of a G-protein-coupled membrane receptor, such as the A3 adenosine receptor. Moreover, modulation of the astrocytic cytoskeleton by adenosine may have intriguing implications in both nervous system development and in the response of the brain to trauma and ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Abbracchio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rainaldi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Giammarioli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ceruti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cattabeni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Malorni
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000241:Adenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001254:Astrocytoma; D048429:Cell Size; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D058906:Purinergic P1 Receptor Agonists; D043684:Receptor, Adenosine A3; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D058906:Purinergic P1 Receptor Agonists; D043684:Receptor, Adenosine A3; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D000241:Adenosine; C090034:2-chloro-N(6)-(3-iodobenzyl)adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide