title: The food dye FD&C Blue No. 1 is a selective inhibitor of the ATP release channel Panx1.
abstract: The food dye FD&C Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF [BB FCF]) is structurally similar to the purinergic receptor antagonist Brilliant Blue G (BBG), which is a well-known inhibitor of the ionotropic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R). The P2X7R functionally interacts with the membrane channel protein pannexin 1 (Panx1) in inflammasome signaling. Intriguingly, ligands to the P2X7R, regardless of whether they are acting as agonists or antagonists at the receptor, inhibit Panx1 channels. Thus, because both P2X7R and Panx1 are inhibited by BBG, the diagnostic value of the drug is limited. Here, we show that the food dye BB FCF is a selective inhibitor of Panx1 channels, with an IC50 of 0.27 µM. No significant effect was observed with concentrations as high as 100 µM of BB FCF on P2X7R. Differing by just one hydroxyl group from BB FCF, the food dye FD&C Green No. 3 exhibited similar selective inhibition of Panx1 channels. A reverse selectivity was observed for the P2X7R antagonist, oxidized ATP, which in contrast to other P2X7R antagonists had no significant inhibitory effect on Panx1 channels. Based on its selective action, BB FCF can be added to the repertoire of drugs to study the physiology of Panx1 channels. Furthermore, because Panx1 channels appear to be involved directly or indirectly through P2X7Rs in several disorders, BB FCF and derivatives of this "safe" food dye should be given serious consideration for pharmacological intervention of conditions such as acute Crohn's disease, stroke, and injuries to the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: David George
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dahl
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017630:Connexins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D005505:Food Coloring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D058920:Purinergic P2X Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D017630:Connexins; D005505:Food Coloring Agents; D007473:Ion Channels; D008024:Ligands; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C503631:Panx1 protein, mouse; D058920:Purinergic P2X Receptor Antagonists; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C006796:brilliant blue