ORCiD

David M. Ojcius: 0000-0003-1461-4495

Department

Biomedical Sciences

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Biological Chemistry

ISSN

0021-9258

Volume

280

Issue

30

DOI

10.1074/jbc.M501290200

First Page

28142

Last Page

28151

Publication Date

7-29-2005

Abstract

Extracellular ATP (ATPe) binds to P2X7 receptors (P2X7R) expressed on the surface of cells of hematopoietic lineage, including murine thymocytes. Activation of P2X7R by ATPe results in the opening of cation-specific channels, and prolonged ATPe exposure leads to the formation of non-selective pores enabling transmembrane passage of solutes up to 900 Da. In the presence of ATPe, P2X7R-mediated thymocyte death is due primarily to necrosis/lysis and not apoptosis, as measured by the release of lactate dehydrogenase indicative of a loss of plasma membrane integrity. The present study is focused on the identification of P2X7R signaling mediators in ATP-induced thymocyte necrosis/lysis. Thus, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) phosphorylation was found to be required for cell lysis, and both events were independent of ATP-induced calcium influx. P2X7R-dependent thymocyte death involved the chronological activation of Src family tyrosine kinase(s), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinaseErk1/2 module, and the proteasome. Although independent of this signaling cascade, non-selective pore formation may modulate ATP-mediated thymocyte death. These results therefore suggest a role for both activation of MAP kinaseErk1/2 and non-selective pore opening in P2X7R-induced thymocyte death.

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