title: A critical role for pannexin-1 in activation of innate immune cells of the choroid plexus.
abstract: Epiplexus cells are a population of innate immune cells in the choroid plexus of the brain ventricles. They are thought to contribute to the immune component of the blood-cerebrospinal-fluid-barrier (BCSFB). Here we have developed a novel technique for studying epiplexus cells in acutely isolated, live and intact choroid plexus. We show that epiplexus cells are potently activated by exogenous ATP, increasing their motility within the tissue. This ATP-induced chemokinesis required activation of pannexin-1 channels, which are expressed by the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus and not the epiplexus cells themselves. Furthermore, ATP acts at least in part through the P2X4 ionotropic purinergic receptor. Thus, the resident immune cells of the choroid plexus appear to be in communication with the epithelial cells through pannexin-1 channels.
authors.affiliation: Hotchkiss Brain Institute; Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy; University of Calgary; Calgary, AB Canada.
authors.forename: Valentyna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maslieieva
authors.affiliation: Hotchkiss Brain Institute; Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy; University of Calgary; Calgary, AB Canada.
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002633:Chemotaxis; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017630:Connexins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D058848:Receptors, Purinergic P2X4 / Q000378:metabolism; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C492764:PANX1 protein, human; D058848:Receptors, Purinergic P2X4; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002118:Calcium
keywords: ATP; P2X4; P2X7; calcium; chemotaxis; choroid plexus; epiplexus; epithelial; macrophage; pannexin-1