Dual Pathways of Extracellular ATP Action in Cancer Cells: Purinergic Signaling-Driven Senescence and Macropinocytic...

Opportunistic nutrient uptake is a hallmark of cancer metabolism. Cancer cells upregulate macropinocytosis to acquire extracellular nutrients to support growth and stress adaptation. We previously showed that extracellular ATP (eATP) is internalized by macropinocytosis and promotes multiple cancer phenotypes. Here, we tested whether eATP uptake is prevalent across cancers and whether eATP also induces senescence through purinergic receptor (PR) signaling.

Intracellular ATP (iATP) levels were measured following eATP exposure across multiple cancer cell lines. eATP internalization was visualized in vitro and in vivo using a non-hydrolyzable fluorescent ATP analog together with high-molecular-weight dextran as a macropinocytosis marker. Senescence was quantified using three SA-β-galactosidase assays and flow cytometry. Pharmacologic inhibitors of macropinocytosis and purinergic receptors were used to define pathway dependence. Combination treatments with the glucose transporter inhibitor DRB18 and the senolytic navitoclax were evaluated for antiproliferative effects.

eATP produced dose- and time-dependent increases in iATP across diverse cancer cell types. Imaging demonstrated widespread macropinocytic internalization of ATP in vitro and in tumor xenografts. eATP induced senescence in NSCLC cells, confirmed by multiple β-gal assays and flow cytometry. PR inhibition significantly reduced senescence, whereas macropinocytosis inhibition had minimal effect on senescence induction.

eATP acts through dual pathways in cancer cells: macropinocytic internalization that elevates iATP and PR signaling that drives senescence. Targeting metabolic uptake together with senolytic therapy may offer a novel anticancer strategy.