P2 receptor signalling, proliferation of astrocytes, and expression of molecules involved in cell-cell interactions

Growing evidence indicates that trophic actions of extracellular nucleotides are involved in CNS development, injury and repair. For example, upon CNS injury, ATP is released and contributes to the formation of reactive astrocytes, cells that produce molecules that can impede or promote axonal regeneration. Proliferation is one of the features of reactive astrogliosis, particularly in traumatic injury. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)2 is also increased after injury and can stimulate astrocyte proliferation. Extracellular ATP enhances FGF2-induced proliferation in a process mediated by P2Y receptors and increased cyclin expression. However, when P2X receptors are activated, FGF2-induced proliferation is inhibited. P2 receptors are coupled to extracellular signal regulated protein kinase (ERK), and differences in the extent and duration of ERK activation by P2Y and P2X receptors may mediate the opposing effects of these receptors on FGF2-induced mitogenesis. Trauma also activates P2 receptor/ERK signalling, and stimulation of this and other protein kinase pathways by extracellular ATP increases expression of cell adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules involved in migration, glial contact formation, neuronal guidance and synapse formation. These findings support the hypothesis that purinergic signalling via protein kinase cascades plays a key role in astrocyte proliferation, glia-glia connections, and neuron-glia interactions in both normal and pathological conditions.