The role of P2X7 receptor in PC12 cells after exposure to oxygen-glucose deprivation

- The viability of PC12 cells was decreased after OGD.
- OGD up-regulated the expression of P2X7 in PC12 cells.
- P2X7 agonists induced the [Ca2 +]i elevation in PC12 cells after OGD.
- OxATP, P2X7 siRNA or U0126 decreased the [Ca2 +]i elevation in OGD.
- P2X7 antagonist or P2X7 siRNA depressed the sympathetic neuronal damage.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) plays an important role in signal transmission via acting on P2X receptors. P2X7 receptor is involved in pathophysiological changes of ischemic diseases. The PC12 cell line is a popular model system to study sympathetic neuronal function. In this study, the effects of P2X7 on the viability or [Ca2 +]i in PC12 cells after exposure to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) were investigated. The results showed that the viability of PC12 cells was decreased under the condition of OGD. BzATP, a P2X7 agonist, decreased the viability, while P2X7 antagonist oxATP or P2X7 siRNA reversed the viability of PC12 cells under the condition of OGD. The expression levels of P2X7 mRNA and protein in PC12 cells were up-regulated under the condition of OGD or BzATP treatment. The expression levels of P2X7 mRNA and protein were significantly decreased in OGD PC12 cells, which were pretreated with oxATP or P2X7 siRNA. It was also found that oxATP or P2X7 siRNA effectively suppressed the increase of [Ca2 +]i induced by OGD. P2X7 agonist ATP or BzATP enhanced the [Ca2 +]i rise induced by OGD in PC12 cells. The [Ca2 +]i peak induced by ATP or BzATP in OGD group was decreased by ERK inhibitor U0126. Therefore, P2X7 antagonists or P2X7 siRNA could depress the sympathetic neuronal damage induced by ischemia.