Modulation of mouse embryonic stem cell proliferation and neural differentiation by the P2X7 receptor

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 5; p. e96281
• Main Authors: Glaser, Talita, de Oliveira, Sophia La Banca, Cheffer, Arquimedes, Beco, Renata, Martins, Patrícia, Fornazari, Maynara, Lameu, Claudiana, Junior, Helio Miranda Costa, Coutinho-Silva, Robson, Ulrich, Henning
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 05.05.2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acids; Adenosine; Amino acids; Animals; ATP; Biology and Life Sciences; Calcium; Calcium (intracellular); Calcium - metabolism; Cell cycle; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Differentiation; Doublecortin protein; Embryo cells; Embryonic stem cells; Embryonic Stem Cells - cytology; Embryonic Stem Cells - metabolism; Embryos; Fibroblasts; Fluxes; Gene Knockout Techniques; Mice; Nervous system; Neural stem cells; Neuroblasts; Neurogenesis; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - metabolism; Oct-4 protein; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 - metabolism; Pluripotency; Proteins; Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 - genetics; Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 - metabolism; Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 - physiology; Retinoic acid; Rodents; Stem cell transplantation; Stem cells; Tretinoin; Tubulin; Tubulins; Up-Regulation
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096281

Novel developmental functions have been attributed to the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) including proliferation stimulation and neural differentiation. Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC), induced with retinoic acid to neural differentiation, closely assemble processes occurring during neuroectodermal development of the early embryo. P2X7R expression together with the pluripotency marker Oct-4 was highest in undifferentiated ESC. In undifferentiated cells, the P2X7R agonist Bz-ATP accelerated cell cycle entry, which was blocked by the specific P2X7R inhibitor KN-62. ESC induced to neural differentiation with retinoic acid, reduced Oct-4 and P2X7R expression. P2X7R receptor-promoted intracellular calcium fluxes were obtained at lower Bz-ATP ligand concentrations in undifferentiated and in neural-differentiated cells compared to other studies. The presence of KN-62 led to increased number of cells expressing SSEA-1, Dcx and β3-tubulin, as well as the number of SSEA-1 and β3-tubulin-double-positive cells confirming that onset of neuroectodermal differentiation and neuronal fate determination depends on suppression of P2X7R activity. Moreover, an increase in the number of Ki-67 positive cells in conditions of P2X7R inhibition indicates rescue of progenitors into the cell cycle, augmenting the number of neuroblasts and consequently neurogenesis. In embryonic cells, P2X7R expression and activity is upregulated, maintaining proliferation, while upon induction to neural differentiation P2X7 receptor expression and activity needs to be suppressed.