Investigation on the role of P2X4 purinergic receptor during neuronal differentiation of P19 cells through interference RNA

• Grant number: 12/24205-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2013
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Alexander Henning Ulrich
• Grantee: Bruno Henrique Do Amaral
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/50880-4 - Stem cells: from basic studies of kinin and purinergic receptor roles towards therapeutical applications, AP.TEM

Abstract

Purinergic receptors are the most plentiful ones in mammalian tissues and can be found in all kinds of cells, including the ones with neural origin. This class of receptors is subdivided in two subgroups, P1 receptors (activated by adenosine) and P2 receptors (activated by adenine and uridine nucleotides). The receptors of P2 type can be ionotropic (P2X) or metabotropic (P2Y). Such receptors are involved in many different pathologic and physiologic processes, from sensorial perception and smooth muscle control to chronic inflammation and neuropathic pain. Also, it has been described by our research group the involvement of P2X receptors in neuronal differentiation of murine embryonic terato-carcinoma cells (P19). We have demonstrated that the expression of P2X4 receptor, high in embryonic cells, decreases when the cells are induced to differentiate into neurons, while the expression of P2X2 and P2X6 receptors increases. Besides, preliminary data indicates reduction of the embryonic bodies' size in undifferentiated cells in the absence of the expression of P2X4 receptor. In view of the importance of purinergic receptors in the central nervous system, we propose to characterize with bigger accuracy the role of P2X4 receptor in the progress of neuronal differentiation of P19 cells, silencing its expression through the interference RNA technique. (AU)