title: Regulation of human hepatocytes by P2Y receptors: control of glycogen phosphorylase, Ca2+, and mitogen-activated protein kinases.
abstract: In the rat both short-term liver function, such as glycogen metabolism, and long-term events such as proliferation after partial hepatectomy, are in part controlled by release of nucleotides such as ATP acting on hepatocyte P2Y(1) and P2Y(2) receptors (members of a family of P2Y receptors for extracellular nucleotides such as ATP and UTP). Here, we have studied P2Y receptor regulation of signaling pathways involved in glycogen phosphorylase activation and proliferation of primary human hepatocytes. Stimulation of cultured hepatocytes with either ATP and UTP, but not UDP or 2-methylthio ADP, led to concentration-dependent increases in cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](c); EC(50) for ATP = 3.3 microM, for UTP = 2.3 microM) and [(3)H]inositol (poly)phosphates (EC(50) for ATP = 9.4 microM, for UTP = 15.4 microM). ATP and UTP also stimulated glycogen phosphorylase in human hepatocytes, each with a threshold for activation of less than 1 microM. Application of 2-methylthio ADP up to 100 microM was ineffective. Phosphorylation of both extracellular signal-related kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase was stimulated by ATP and UTP, but not by 2-methylthio ADP or UDP, either alone or when costimulated with epidermal growth factor. In conclusion, in human hepatocytes P2Y receptors control both glycogen metabolism and proliferation-associated responses such as increased [Ca(2+)](c) and mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades. Regulation seems to be primarily through P2Y(2) receptors. In contrast with previous studies on rat hepatocytes, there is an absence of responses mediated by P2Y(1) receptors.
authors.affiliation: The Cell Signaling Laboratory, Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, UK.
authors.forename: C Jane
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kingston
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Boarder
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D024981:Glycogen Phosphorylase / Q000502:physiology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000502:physiology*; D058472:Receptors, Purinergic P2Y1; D058473:Receptors, Purinergic P2Y2; D014544:Uridine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C546382:P2RY1 protein, human; C546385:P2RY2 protein, human; C546384:P2ry1 protein, rat; C546387:P2ry2 protein, rat; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058472:Receptors, Purinergic P2Y1; D058473:Receptors, Purinergic P2Y2; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D024981:Glycogen Phosphorylase; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D002118:Calcium; D014544:Uridine Triphosphate