Expression Profile of Purinergic Receptors and Ectonucleotidases in Vascular Cell Lines

• Grant number: 24/17670-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Cristina Ribas Fürstenau
• Grantee: Henrique França Bueno
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/07191-0 - Investigation of the vascular inflammatory state in kidney injury models: contribution of purinergic signaling, AP.R

Abstract

The purinergic system is important and plays a fundamental role in the vascular system. It is an extracellular signaling system composed of nucleotides (ATP, ADP, and UDP, for example), nucleosides (adenosine), receptors (P1 and P2), and ectonucleotidases (enzymes). Nucleotides and nucleosides present in the circulation are directly linked to the maintenance and control of vascular tone. In the vessels, the released ATP acts directly on the activation of P2X receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells, promoting vasoconstriction. ATP is also released from endothelial cells to act on P2X and P2Y receptors in endothelial cells, producing nitric oxide (NO), which provides vasorelaxation of the vessel. Endothelial dysfunction refers to an imbalance between vasodilatory and vasoconstrictive factors, characterized by decreased bioavailability and expression of NO and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inflammation. The functions of the vascular system, such as vascular constriction, relaxation, and inflammation, are largely controlled by purinergic signaling, corroborating the importance of studying this pathway for a better understanding of the physiology, biochemistry, and pathophysiology of blood vessels. Thus, the objective of this project is to investigate the gene expression levels of purinergic receptors and ectonucleotidases in two vascular cell lines: mouse thymus-derived endothelial cells (t.End1) and vascular smooth muscle cells from rat embryonic thoracic aorta (A7r5) by RTqPCR. Cellular, in vitro studies that systematize the presence of purinergic components expressed in different vascular cell lines are important for deepening the molecular mechanisms involved in the responses found at more complex levels. In this sense, both cell lines are expected to be validated as good experimental models for the study of the purinergic system in the vasculature.