Differential modulation of ATP-induced calcium signalling by A1 and A2 adenosine receptors in cultured cortical astrocytes.

1. Despite the accumulating evidence that under various pathological conditions the extracellular elevation of adenine-based nucleotides and nucleosides plays a key role in the control of astroglial reactivity, how these signalling molecules interact in the regulation of astrocyte function is still largely elusive. 2. The action of the nucleoside adenosine in the modulation of the intracellular calcium signalling (Ca(2+)) elicited by adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-induced activation of P2 purinoceptors was investigated on neocortical type-1 astrocytes in primary culture by using single-cell microfluorimetry. 3. Astrocyte challenge with ATP (1-10 microm) elicited biphasic Ca(2+) responses consisting of an initial peak followed by a sustained elevation. The stable adenosine analogue 2-chloroadenosine (2-ClA) potentiated the transient Ca(2+) rise induced by activation of metabotropic P2Y receptors. Among the various P1 receptor agonists tested, the nonselective agonist 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) mimicked the 2-ClA action, whereas the selective A1 R(-) N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (R-PIA), the A2A 2-[4-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS-21680) and A3 1-deoxy-1-(6-[([3-lodophenyl]methyl)-amino]-9H-purin-9-yl)-N-methyl-beta-d-ribofuranuronamide (IB-MECA) agonists were ineffective. 4. Application of R-PIA>NECA>or=2-ClA depressed the Ca(2+) plateau reversibly. Moreover, in the presence of R-PIA or 2-ClA, the prolonged Ca(2+) signal was maintained by application of the A1 antagonist 1,3-diethyl-8-phenylxanthine (DPX). Finally, preincubation of the astrocytes with pertussis toxin abrogated the 2-ClA inhibition of the ATP-elicited sustained Ca(2+) rise without affecting the transient Ca(2+) potentiation. 5. Taken together, these findings indicate that stimulation of A1 and A2 adenosine receptors mediates a differential modulation of Ca(2+) signalling elicited by P2 purinoceptors. Since variations in Ca(2+) dynamics also affect cell proliferation and differentiation, our data suggest that tuning of the extracellular levels of adenosine may be relevant for the control of astrogliosis mediated by adenine nucleotides.