title: Expression of purinergic receptors and modulation of P2X7 function by the inflammatory cytokine IFNgamma in human epithelial cells.
abstract: The cervical epithelial cell line, HeLa, is one of the oldest and most commonly used cell lines in cell biology laboratories. Although a truncated P2X(7) receptor has recently been identified in HeLa cells, the expression of other purinergic receptors or the function of the P2X(7) protein has not been characterized. We here show that HeLa cells express transcripts for most P2X and P2Y purinergic receptors. Treatment of cells with ATP or other P2X(7) agonists does not stimulate cell death, but can induce atypical calcium fluxes and ion currents. Cervical epithelial cells represent an important target for sexually-transmitted pathogens and are commonly exposed to pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IFNgamma. Stimulation of HeLa cells with IFNgamma upregulates expression of P2X(7) mRNA and full-length protein, modifies ATP-dependent calcium fluxes, and renders the cells sensitive to ATP-induced apoptosis, which can be blocked by a P2X(7) antagonist. IFNgamma treatment also increased dramatically the sensitivity of the intestinal epithelial cell line, HCT8, to ATP-induced apoptosis. Significantly, IFNgamma also stimulated P2X(7) expression on human intestinal tissues. Responses to other purinergic receptor ligands suggest that HeLa cells may also express functional P2Y(1), P2Y(2) and P2Y(6) receptors, which could be relevant for modulating ion homeostasis in the cells.
authors.affiliation: Université Paris - Denis Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Welter-Stahl
authors.forename: Camila Marques
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schachter
authors.forename: Pedro Muanis
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Persechini
authors.forename: Heitor S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ojcius
authors.forename: Robson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coutinho-Silva
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D001483:Base Sequence; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D058910:Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014544:Uridine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; C546468:P2RX7 protein, human; D058910:Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D014544:Uridine Triphosphate