title: Monocytes P2X7 purinergic receptor is modulated by glatiramer acetate in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of P2X7R, IL-1beta and the ATP activity modulating ecto-apyrase CD39 on peripheral blood monocytes of MS patients and to observe the possible effects of Glatiramer Acetate (GA) on such expression. Twelve RR treatment-free MS patients were selected and peripheral blood monocytes were obtained. The expression of P2X7R, IL-1beta and CD39 on monocytes was investigated by qrt-PCR. The in vitro effects of GA on the expression of monocytes stimulated with BzATP (a potent P2X7R agonist)-were evaluated. Ten healthy donors (HDs) were similarly studied. Finally, 5 MS patients were given GA therapy and the monocytes obtained before treatment, after 3 and 12 months of GA treatment were similarly investigated. No differences were found in P2X7R, IL-1beta and CD39 expression between patients and controls. In MS Bz-ATP stimulated monocytes, GA pre-conditioning clearly downregulated P2X7R (p=0.003) but IL-1beta expression also showed a decreasing trend (p=0.07). Conversely, CD39 showed an increasing trend (p=0.07). Similar evidence was found in HDs. GA in vivo treatment induced a reduction in the expression that was clear for P2X7R and CD39 (p<0.05) but only not significant for IL-1beta after 12 months of treatment. Monocytes from both MS and control subjects express P2X7R, IL-1beta and CD39, and GA seems to interfere with such expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Occupational Sci., University of Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariantonietta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caragnano
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tortorella
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergami
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Livrea
authors.forename: Luigi Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Specchio
authors.forename: Gianvito
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trojano
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Furlan
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avolio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D001081:Apyrase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D058920:Purinergic P2X Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D010455:Peptides; D058920:Purinergic P2X Receptor Antagonists; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D001081:Apyrase; C067869:CD39 antigen