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ATP released from astrocytes mediates glial calcium waves
P B Guthrie1, J Knappenberger, M Segal
1Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA.
Summary
Astrocytes communicate via calcium waves using extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a messenger, not solely through gap junctions. This research identifies ATP as a key signaling molecule in astrocyte intercellular communication.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Astrocyte Biology
Background:
- Intercellular communication is vital in the central nervous system (CNS).
- Calcium waves are a known form of intercellular communication.
- Previously, gap junctions were considered essential for calcium wave propagation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the extracellular messenger mediating calcium wave propagation in mouse cortical astrocytes.
- To investigate the role of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in astrocyte intercellular communication.
Main Methods:
- Collected medium from astrocyte cultures during calcium wave stimulation.
- Applied ATP and medium samples to astrocyte cultures.
- Utilized purinergic receptor antagonists and apyrase to block signaling pathways.
- Evoked calcium waves using electrical stimulation.
Main Results:
- Medium collected during calcium wave stimulation contained ATP.
- Excitatory effects of medium and ATP were blocked by purinergic antagonists and apyrase.
- Purinergic antagonists inhibited electrically evoked calcium waves.
- Applied ATP mimicked the effects of the collected medium samples.
Conclusions:
- Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a major extracellular messenger for calcium wave propagation in mouse cortical astrocytes.
- This finding challenges the long-held view that gap junctions are exclusively required for such communication.
- ATP acts as a crucial transmitter between astrocytes in the CNS.