ATP release during cell swelling activates a Ca2+-dependent Cl - Current by autocrine mechanism in mouse hippocampal microglia

Microglia cells, resident immune cells of the brain, survey brain parenchyma by dynamically extending and retracting their processes. Cl- channels, activated in the cellular response to stretch/swelling, take part in several functions deeply connected with microglia physiology, including cell shape changes, proliferation, differentiation and migration. However, the molecular identity and functional properties of these Cl- channels are largely unknown. We investigated the properties of swelling-activated currents in microglial from acute hippocampal slices of Cx3cr1+/GFP mice by whole-cell patch-clamp and imaging techniques. The exposure of cells to a mild hypotonic medium, caused an outward rectifying current, developing in 5-10 minutes and reverting upon stimulus washout. This current, required for microglia ability to extend processes towards a damage signal, was carried mainly by Cl- ions and dependent on intracellular Ca2+. Moreover, it involved swelling-induced ATP release. We identified a purine-dependent mechanism, likely constituting an amplification pathway of current activation: under hypotonic conditions, ATP release triggered the Ca2+-dependent activation of anionic channels by autocrine purine receptors stimulation. Our study on native microglia describes for the first time the functional properties of stretch/swelling-activated currents, representing a key element in microglia ability to monitor the brain parenchyma

The novel NTPDase inhibitor sodium polyoxotungstate (POM-1) inhibits ATP breakdown but also blocks central synaptic transmission, an action independent of NTPDase inhibition

Understanding the mechanisms and properties of purinergic signalling would be greatly assisted by the discovery of subtype selective and potent inhibitors of the NTPDase enzymes, which metabolise nucleotides such as ATP and ADP in the extracellular space. Currently ARL 67156 is the best available NTPDase inhibitor, but its relatively poor efficacy means that negative results are difficult to interpret. POM-1 (sodium polyoxotungstate) is a novel NTPDase inhibitor, which has shown promising results with the inhibition of recombinant NTPDases 1, 2 and 3. We have tested the effectiveness and physiological effects of POM-1 with cerebellar and hippocampal slices. Using the malachite green phosphate assay, HPLC and biosensor measurements we have found that POM-1 is more effective at blocking ATP breakdown in cerebellar slices than ARL 67156. The site of inhibition is at the first step of the breakdown cascade (conversion of ATP to ADP) and the effects of POM-1 appear readily reversible. However, POM-1 has multiple effects on synaptic transmission. At the cerebellar parallel fibre-Purkinje cell (PF) synapse POM-1 produced a long lasting inhibition of transmission, which was preceded in a minority of synapses by a transient increase in PF excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) amplitude (similar to 20%). This increase in PF EPSP amplitude appears to result from a reduction in the tonic activation of presynaptic A, receptors, consistent with POM-1 preventing the breakdown of ATP to adenosine. The reduction in PF EPSP amplitude does not however appear to result from NTPDase inhibition as it persists when both adenosine and ATP (P2Y and P2X) receptors are blocked. An increase in paired pulse ratio and a reduction in presynaptic volley amplitude suggest that there is a presynaptic component of POM-1 action which reduces glutamate release. POM-1 produced similar inhibition at climbing fibre synapses and at hippocampal CA1 pyramidal synapses. Thus although POM-1 is more effective than ARL 67156 at blocking ATP breakdown its usefulness is limited by off-target actions on synaptic transmission. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved