title: Maxi-anion channel as a candidate pathway for osmosensitive ATP release from mouse astrocytes in primary culture.
abstract: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the pathways contributing to ATP release from mouse astrocytes during hypoosmotic stress. We first examined the expression of mRNAs for proteins constituting possible ATP-releasing pathways that have been suggested over the past several years. In RT-PCR analysis using both control and osmotically swollen astrocytes, amplification of cDNA fragments of expected size was seen for connexins (Cx32, Cx37, Cx43), pannexin 1 (Px1), the P2X7 receptor, MRP1 and MDR1, but not CFTR. Inhibitors of exocytotic vesicular release, gap junction hemi-channels, CFTR, MRP1, MDR1, the P2X7 receptor, and volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying chloride channels had no significant effects on the massive ATP release from astrocytes. In contrast, the hypotonicity-induced ATP release from astrocytes was most effectively inhibited by gadolinium (50 muM), an inhibitor of the maxi-anion channel, which has recently been shown to serve as a pathway for ATP release from several other cell types. Thus, we propose that the maxi-anion channel constitutes a major pathway for swelling-induced ATP release from cultured mouse astrocytes as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Myodaiji-cho, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Hong-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Abduqodir H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Toychiev
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Ravshan Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Sabirov
authors.forename: Yasunobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000494:pharmacology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000235:genetics; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D007473:Ion Channels; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C546469:P2rx7 protein, mouse; C503631:Panx1 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005682:Gadolinium