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Introduction Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent medical complication seen in hospitalized patients. It is associated with an increased length of hospital stay, the development of chronic kidney disease, [...], Ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI), a complication that frequently occurs in hospital settings, is often associated with hemodynamic compromise, sepsis, cardiac surgery, or exposure to nephrotoxins. Here, using a murine renal ischemia/ reperfusion injury (IRI) model, we show that intercalated cells (ICs) rapidly adopted a proinflammatory phenotype after IRI. Wwe demonstrate that during the early phase of AKI either blockade of the proinflammatory P2Y14 receptor located on the apical membrane of ICs or ablation of the gene encoding the P2Y14 receptor in ICs (a) inhibited IRI-induced increase of chemokine expression in ICs, (b) reduced neutrophil and monocyte renal infiltration, (c) reduced the extent of kidney dysfunction, and (d) attenuated proximal tubule damage. These observations indicate that the P2Y14 receptor participates in the very first inflammatory steps associated with ischemic AKI. In addition, we show that the concentration of the P2Y14 receptor ligand UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc) was higher in urine samples from intensive care unit patients who developed AKI compared with patients without AKI. In particular, we observed a strong correlation between UDP-Glc concentration and the development of AKI in cardiac surgery patients. Our study identifies the UDP-Glc/P2Y14 receptor axis as a potential target for the prevention and/or attenuation of ischemic AKI.

The PPARs are ligand-activated transcription factors that belong to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. The three subtypes--termed PPAR-α, PPAR-δ and PPAR-γ--serve as lipid sensors in response to increased energy requirements [...], Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which encodes a polyglutamine tract in the HTT protein. We found that peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor delta (PPAR-δ) interacts with HTT and that mutant HTT represses PPAR-δ-mediated transactivation. Increased PPAR-δ transactivation ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction and improved cell survival of neurons from mouse models of HD. Expression of dominant-negative PPAR-δ in the central nervous system of mice was sufficient to induce motor dysfunction, neurodegeneration, mitochondrial abnormalities and transcriptional alterations that recapitulated HD-like phenotypes. Expression of dominant-negative PPAR-δ specifically in the striatum of medium spiny neurons in mice yielded HD- like motor phenotypes, accompanied by striatal neuron loss. In mouse models of HD, pharmacologic activation of PPAR-δ using the agonist KD3010 improved motor function, reduced neurodegeneration and increased survival. PPAR-δ activation also reduced HTT-induced neurotoxicity in vitro and in medium spiny-like neurons generated from stem cells derived from individuals with HD, indicating that PPAR-δ activation may be beneficial in HD and related disorders.

Most developing thymocytes (95%) undergo apoptosis, but in the steady state only 1-2% are detectable as apoptotic (4,5). It has been speculated that dying thymocytes secrete soluble factors that attract [...], Phagocytic removal of apoptotic cells occurs efficiently in vivo such that even in tissues with significant apoptosis, very few apoptotic cells are detectable (1). This is thought to be due to the release of 'find-me' signals by apoptotic cells that recruit motile phagocytes such as monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells, leading to the prompt clearance of the dying cells (2). However, the identity and in vivo relevance of such find-me signals are not well understood. Here, through several lines of evidence, we identify extracellular nucleotides as a critical apoptotic cell find-me signal. We demonstrate the caspase-dependent release of ATP and UTP (in equimolar quantities) during the early stages of apoptosis by primary thymocytes and cell lines. Purified nucleotides at these concentrations were sufficient to induce monocyte recruitment comparable to that of apoptotic cell supernatants. Enzymatic removal of ATP and UTP (by apyrase or the expression of ectopic CD39) abrogated the ability of apoptotic cell supernatants to recruit monocytes in vitro and in vivo. We then identified the ATP/UTP receptor [P2Y.sub.2] as a critical sensor of nucleotides released by apoptotic cells using RNA interference-mediated depletion studies in monocytes, and macrophages from [P2Y.sub.2]-null mice (3). The relevance of nucleotides in apoptotic cell clearance in vivo was revealed by two approaches. First, in a murine air-pouch model, apoptotic cell supernatants induced a threefold greater recruitment of monocytes and macrophages than supernatants from healthy cells did; this recruitment was abolished by depletion of nucleotides and was significantly decreased in [P2Y.sub.2.sup.-/-] (also known as [P2ry.sub.2.sup.-/-]) mice. Second, clearance of apoptotic thymocytes was significantly impaired by either depletion of nucleotides or interference with P2Y receptor function (by pharmacological inhibition or in [P2Y.sub.2.sup.-/-] mice). These results identify nucleotides as a critical find-me cue released by apoptotic cells to promote P2Y2-dependent recruitment of phagocytes, and provide evidence for a clear relationship between a find-me signal and efficient corpse clearance in vivo.

Extracellular ATP regulates several elements of the mucus clearance process important for pulmonary host defense. However, the mechanisms mediating ATP release onto airway surfaces remain unknown. Mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channels (mt-VDACs) translocate a variety of metabolites, including ATP and ADP, across the mitochondrial outer membrane, and a plasmalemmal splice variant (pl-VDAC-1) has been proposed to mediate ATP translocation across the plasma membrane. We tested the involvement of VDAC-1 in ATP release in a series of studies in murine cells. First, the full-length coding sequence was cloned from a mouse airway epithelial cell line (MTE7[b.sup.-]) and transfected into NIH 3T3 cells, and pl-VDAC-1-transfected cells exhibited higher rates of ATP release in response to medium change compared with mock-transfected cells. Second, ATP release was compared in cells isolated from VDAC-1 knockout [VDAC-1 (-/-)] and wild-type (WT) mice, Fibroblasts from VDAC-1 (-/-) mice released less ATP than WT mice in response to a medium change. Well-differentiated cultures from nasal and tracheal epithelia of VVAC-1 (-/-) mice exhibited less ATP release in response to luminal hypotonic challenge than WT mice. Confocal microscopy studies revealed that cell volume acutely increased in airway epithelia from both VDAC-1 (-/-) and WT mice after luminal hypotonic challenge, but VDAC-1 (-/-) cells exhibited a slower regulatory volume decrease (RVD) than WT cells. Addition of ATP or apyrase to the luminal surface of VDAC-1 (-/-) or WT cultures with hypotonic challenge produced similar initial cell height responses and RVD kinetics in both cell types, suggesting that involvement of VDAC-1 in RVD is through ATP release. Taken together, these studies suggest that VDAC-1, directly or indirectly, contributes to ATP release from murine cells. However, the observation that VDAC-1 knockout cells released a significant amount of ATP suggests that other molecules also play a role in this function. KEY WORDS: voltage-dependent anion channel * ATP release * osmotic cell swelling * regulatory volume decrease * airway epithelia

A study conducted on polarized human nasal epithelial (HNE) cells shows that the release of intracellular Ca2+ is controlled by the stimulation of the P2 purinoceptors on the ipsilateral membrane. Treatment of HNE with ATP stimulates the P2 receptors, which are linked to phospholipase C, on the ipsilateral but not on the contralateral side of the membrane. The results suggest that the release of Ca2+ in response to receptor stimulation is not controlled by inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate.

Analysis of a cDNA, cloned from human airway epithelial (CF/T43) cells that encode a protein having characteristics of a P2U nucleotide receptor, provided insights into the sequence and functional expression. Expression of the human P2U receptor in 1321N1 cells confirmed autocine ATP secretion and activation of transduced receptors.

Pannexin 1 (Panx1) channels export ATP and may contribute to increased concentration of the vasodilator ATP in plasma during hypoxia in vivo. We hypothesized that Panx1 channels and associated ATP export contribute to hypoxic vasodilation, a mechanism that facilitates the matching of oxygen delivery to metabolic demand of tissue. Male and female mice devoid of Panx1 (Panx1-/-) and wild-type controls (WT) were anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and instrumented with a carotid artery catheter or femoral artery flow transducer for hemodynamic and plasma ATP monitoring during inhalation of 21% (normoxia) or 10% oxygen (hypoxia). ATP export from WT vs. Panx1-/-erythrocytes (RBC) was determined ex vivo via tonometer experimentation across progressive deoxygenation. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was similar in Panx1-/- (n = 6) and WT (n = 6) mice in normoxia, but the decrease in MAP in hypoxia seen in WT was attenuated in Panx1-/- mice (-16 ± 9% vs. -2 ± 8%; P < 0.05). Hindlimb blood flow (HBF) was significantly lower in Panx1-/- (n = 6) vs. WT (n = 6) basally, and increased in WT but not Panx1-/- mice during hypoxia (8 ± 6% vs. -10 ± 13%; P < 0.05). Estimation of hindlimb vascular conductance using data from the MAP and HBF experiments showed an average response of 28% for WT vs. -9% for Panx1-/- mice. Mean venous plasma ATP during hypoxia was 57% lower in Panx1-/- (n = 6) vs. WT mice (n = 6; P < 0.05). Mean hypoxia-induced ATP export from RBCs from Panx1-/- mice (n = 8) was 82% lower than that from WT (n = 8; P < 0.05). Panx1 channels participate in hemodynamic responses consistent with hypoxic vasodilation by regulating hypoxia-sensitive extracellular ATP levels in blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease with a poor prognosis and very few available treatment options. The involvement of the purinergic receptor subtypes P2Y2 and P2X7 in fibrotic lung disease has been demonstrated recently. In this study, we investigated the role of P2Y6 receptors in the pathogenesis of IPF in humans and in the animal model of bleomycin-induced lung injury. P2Y6R expression was upregulated in lung structural cells but not in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells derived from IPF patients as well as in animals following bleomycin administration. Furthermore, BAL fluid levels of the P2Y6R agonist uridine-5′-diphosphate were elevated in animals with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Inflammation and fibrosis following bleomycin administration were reduced in P2Y6R-deficient compared to wild-type animals confirming the pathophysiological relevance of P2Y6R subtypes for fibrotic lung diseases. Experiments with bone marrow chimeras revealed the importance of P2Y6R expression on lung structural cells for pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Similar effects were obtained when animals were treated with the P2Y6R antagonist MRS2578. In vitro studies demonstrated that proliferation and secretion of the pro-inflammatory/pro-fibrotic cytokine IL-6 by lung fibroblasts are P2Y6R-mediated processes. In summary, our results clearly demonstrate the involvement of P2Y6R subtypes in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Thus, blocking pulmonary P2Y6 receptors might be a new target for the treatment of IPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]