apyrase and Neuroblastoma

Pannexin1 (Panx1), a protein related to the gap junction proteins of invertebrates, forms nonjunctional channels that open upon depolarization and in response to mechanical stretch and purinergic receptor stimulation. Importantly, ATP can be released through Panx1 channels, providing a possible role for these channels in non-vesicular signal transmission. In this study we expressed exogenous human and mouse Panx1 in the gap junction deficient Neuro2A neuroblastoma cell line and explored the contribution of Panx1 channels to cell-cell communication as sites of ATP release. Electrophysiological (patch clamp) recordings from Panx1 transfected Neuro2A cells revealed membrane conductance that increased beyond 0 mV when applying voltage ramps from -60 to +100 mV; threshold was correlated with extracellular K+, so that at 10 mM K+, channels began to open at -30 mV. Evaluation of cell-cell communication using dual whole cell recordings from cell pairs revealed that activation of Panx1 current in one cell of the pair induced an inward current in the second cell after a latency of 10-20 s. This paracrine response was amplified by an ATPase inhibitor (ARL67156, 100 μM) and was blocked by the ATP-degrading enzyme apyrase (6.7 U/ml), by the P2 receptor antagonist suramin (50 μM) and by the Panx1 channel blocker carbenoxolone. These results provide additional evidence that ATP release through Panx1 channels can mediate nonsynaptic bidirectional intercellular communication. Furthermore, current potentiation by elevated K+ provides a mechanism for enhancement of ATP release under pathological conditions.

Topics: 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; Adenosine Triphosphatases; Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Apyrase; Carbenoxolone; Cell Communication; Cell Line, Tumor; Connexins; Gap Junctions; Humans; Membrane Potentials; Mice; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neuroblastoma; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Purinergic P2X Receptor Antagonists; Signal Transduction; Suramin

Lesch-Nyhan disease is caused by a deficiency of the purine salvage enzyme, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT). The link between HPRT deficiency and the neuropsychiatric symptoms is unknown. In rat B103 neuroblastoma cell membranes and mouse Neuro2a neuroblastoma cell membranes, nucleoside 5'-triphosphatase (NTPase) activity is substantially reduced, whereas in fibroblast membranes from HPRT knock-out mice, NTPase activity is increased. Candidate genes for these NTPase activity changes are ecto-nucleoside 5'-triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases). Therefore, we studied expression of NTPDases in B103 cells, Neuro2a cells and skin fibroblasts by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion of amplified cDNA fragments. In B103 cells, expression of NTPDases 1, 3 and 6 decreased, whereas expression of NTPDases 4 and 5 increased in HPRT deficiency. In Neuro2a cells, expression of NTPDases 3-6 increased in HPRT deficiency. In fibroblasts, NTPDase 3 expression decreased, and expression of NTPDases 4-6 increased in HPRT deficiency. Collectively, there are complex decreases and increases in NTPDase isoform expression in HPRT deficiency that depend on the specific cell type and species studied. These changes in NTPDase expression may reflect an (insufficient) attempt of cells to compensate for the changes in nucleotide metabolism caused by HPRT deficiency.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, CD; Apyrase; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; DNA Fragmentation; DNA, Complementary; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Fibroblasts; Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase; Isoenzymes; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Neuroblastoma; Neurons; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger

Platelet aggregating activity of the NCG human neuroblastoma cell line was compared with that of the HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line. NCG, in intact cell suspensions and ultracentrifuged pellets, induced platelet aggregation most significantly in heparinized platelet rich plasma (PRP) containing 2.5 units/ml of heparin, but not in the presence of higher concentrations of heparin or 5 mM ethylenediamine-tetraacetate or in citrated PRP. NCG induced platelet aggregation was also inhibited by hirudin or (2R,4R)-4-methyl-1-[N2-(3-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-8-quinolinesulfon yl)-L- arginyl]-2-piperidinecarboxylic acid (MD 805) in the same manner as that of tissue thromboplastin induced platelet aggregation. HL-60 cells did not induce platelet aggregation in our heparinized PRP assay systems; however, after treatment with neuraminidase HL-60 cells became active in aggregating platelets in either heparinized or citrated PRP. NCG demonstrated high procoagulant activity by either intact cell suspensions or ultracentrifuged pellets. The procoagulant activity of NCG was reduced in Factor VII deficient human plasma as it was in the results obtained by tissue thromboplastin. These results suggest that NCG induces platelet aggregation via thrombin generated through procoagulant activity which is shed in association with microvesicles demonstrated in the ultracentrifuged pellets. This type of platelet aggregating activity found in NCG is significantly different from that of HL-60.

Topics: Adenosine Diphosphate; Adenosine Triphosphate; Apyrase; Blood Coagulation; Calcium; Cell Line; Heparin; Humans; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neuraminidase; Neuroblastoma; Platelet Aggregation; Thrombin; Ultracentrifugation

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Apyrase; Cell Line; Colonic Neoplasms; Glioma; Hirudins; Humans; Kinetics; Lung Neoplasms; Melanoma; Mesothelioma; Mice; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Experimental; Neuroblastoma; Phospholipases; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; Platelet Aggregation