P2X7 mediates superoxide production in primary microglia and is up-regulated in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

J Biol Chem. 2003 Apr 11;278(15):13309-17. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M209478200. Epub 2003 Jan 27.

Abstract

Primary rat microglia stimulated with either ATP or 2'- and 3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-ATP (BzATP) release copious amounts of superoxide (O(2)(-)*). ATP and BzATP stimulate O(2)(-)* production through purinergic receptors, primarily the P2X(7) receptor. O(2)(-)* is produced through the activation of the NADPH oxidase. Although both p42/44 MAPK and p38 MAPK were activated rapidly in cells stimulated with BzATP, only pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK attenuated O(2)(-)* production. Furthermore, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase attenuated O(2)(-)* production to a greater extent than an inhibitor of p38 MAPK. Both ATP and BzATP stimulated microglia-induced cortical cell death indicating this pathway may contribute to neurodegeneration. Consistent with this hypothesis, P2X(7) receptor was specifically up-regulated around beta-amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (Tg2576).

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / pharmacology
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Calcium / physiology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology
  • Chromones / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microglia / drug effects
  • Microglia / physiology*
  • Morpholines / pharmacology
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism
  • Neutrophils / physiology
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pregnancy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2 / physiology*
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2X7
  • Superoxides / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Chromones
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Morpholines
  • P2RX7 protein, human
  • P2rx7 protein, mouse
  • P2rx7 protein, rat
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2X7
  • Superoxides
  • 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
  • 3'-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyladenosine 5'-triphosphate
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • Calcium