Acid-sensing by the T cell death-associated gene 8 (TDAG8) receptor cloned from rat brain

The T cell death-associated gene 8 (TDAG8) is a pH-sensing GPCR with a reported immune-specific expression profile. Here, we demonstrate pH-induced activation of TDAG8 receptor cloned from rodent brain (rTDAG8). Cloned rTDAG8 transcript showed 88–95% homology with human and mouse transcripts of lymphoid origin. RT-PCR revealed high expression of TDAG8 in forebrain limbic regions. Extracellular acidification induced significantly elevated intracellular cyclic AMP, and phosphorylated CREB in TDAG8 expressing cells. Acidification-induced LDH release was significantly attenuated in cells expressing TDAG8, suggesting neuroprotective potential against acidosis-related cell injury. Our results open up new areas of investigation into the relevance of TDAG8 in pH homeostasis and pathological states associated with acid–base dys-regulation in the brain such as ischemia and panic disorder.