A Swelling-Activated Chloride Current in Microglial Cells is Suppressed by Epac and Facilitated by PKA – Impact on Phagocytosis

 

Michael Kittla,b    Martin Jakabb    Tanja S. Steiningera    Markus Ritterb,c,d    

Hubert H. Kerschbauma

 

aDepartment of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria, bInstitute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria, cLudwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria, dGastein Research Institute, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria

 

 

 

 

Key Words

Microglia • BV-2 cells • Phagocytosis • Noradrenaline • Adrenoceptors • Cell volume regulation • VRAC • ICl,swell • cAMP • Epac • PKA

 

Abstract

Background/Aims: Volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) are of particular importance in regulating the cell volume (CV) and give rise to the swelling-activated Cl- current (ICl,swell), a main component driving global regulatory volume decrease (RVD) during cell swelling. Because ICl,swell affects numerous CV-regulated processes like migration, we assume that its role is also indispensable for phagocytosis which requires local cell swelling. Noradrenaline (NA) modulates phagocytosis in macrophages and microglial cells, macrophage-related cells in the central nervous system. Therefore we evaluated whether NA modulates ICl,swell and phagocytosis in microglia. Methods: Experiments were performed in murine microglial BV-2 and primary mouse microglial cells. Patch clamp experiments were performed in BV-2 cells using the amphotericin-perforated method to minimize cytosolic disturbances. Phagocytosis was quantified by scanning electron microscopy. Results: Following activation of ICl,swell by a hypotonic bath solution, noradrenaline, as well as the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol, evoked a transient decrease of ICl,swell. Repeated application of adrenergic agonists caused a decline of this electrical response. Application of the agonist of exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac), 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP, or the protein kinase A inhibitor H89 caused a persistent suppression of ICl,swell. When isoproterenol was added concomitantly with the hypotonic saline, ICl,swell developed more rapidly compared to control conditions. Uptake of IgG-coated beads was suppressed by NA or H89 when quantified after 15 min of exposure. Conclusion: The activation of β-adrenergic receptors in microglial cells triggers a cAMP-Epac-dependent and a cAMP-PKA-dependent cascade which affects phagocytosis via modulation of the swelling-activated Cl- current ICl,swell.

 

 

Introduction

 

Noradrenaline (NA) modulates phagocytosis in microglial cells, resident macrophages in the central nervous system, as well as in macrophages in the peripheral tissue [1-5]. Interestingly, specific immune responses – e.g. activation and proliferation of macrophages and lymphocytes or release of cytokines - depend on the activation of distinct ion channels [6, 7] [for review see [8-11]]. In line with these observations, recent studies demonstrated that phagocytosis in microglial cells is related to the activation of a swelling-activated Cl- current, ICl,swell [12, 13] and the Na+-dependent neutral amino acid transporter SNAT1, which mediates cell swelling upon substrate transport [14]. Whether ICl,swell in microglia is modulated by adrenergic agonists is unknown.

Global regulatory cell volume decrease (RVD), which follows cell swelling, depends on activation of K+- and Cl- channels, whereas global cell volume regulatory volume increase (RVI), which follows cell shrinkage, requires Na+-influx pathways [15] [for review see [16-20]]. Local subcellular volume regulatory processes contribute to lamellipodium formation in migrating cells [21-27] and engulfment pseudopodium formation in phagocytes [13]. In microglial cells, replacement of Na+ by other cations or application of the Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin attenuates phagocytosis [14] [for review see [28]]. In addition, Cl- channel blockers impair phagocytosis in microglial cells [12, 13]. We suggest that in phagocytes like microglial cells, a Na+-influx promotes local swelling leading to the formation of a phagocytic cup at the contact area between the phagocyte and the particle, and that Cl- efflux prevents thickening of the pseudopodia to keep the membrane expansion locally [13, 14]. Thus, while at the tip of the crest of the engulfment pseudopodia a local influx of osmolytes and water promotes swelling, in its proximity an efflux of osmolytes and water causes shrinkage to constrain the local swelling [13]. Following local volume increase, the newly formed pouch is subsequently colonized by cytoskeletal elements to stabilize the engulfment pseudopodia. A similar line of arguments has been used for the interpretation of lamellipodia formation and cell migration [21-27].

NA triggers cAMP-dependent signaling cascades [29-31]. The ubiquitous second messenger cAMP shows differences in its subcellular compartmentalization, time course and downstream signaling cascades, which could lead to diverse and even opposite physiological responses to the same agonist in immune cells. For example, an initial and transient cAMP elevation is required for T cell activation, whereas a sustained elevation of cAMP suppresses T cell activation [8]. The G protein-cAMP-dependent signaling cascade shows an early molecular dichotomy at the level of the cAMP-binding proteins, protein kinase A (PKA) and the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac). Because PKA and Epac are coupled to distinct signaling cascades, the dichotomy at the level of these effector proteins may also have consequences in the physiological response to cAMP elevating-agents. While the PKA signaling cascades include numerous phosphorylation steps, the Epac signaling cascades include small GTPases, phospholipases, as well as mitogen- and lipid-activated kinases [for review see [30-32]]. In myeloid cells, cAMP-dependent pathways have been reported to increases or decreases phagocytosis [3-5, 33-36]. In murine microglial cells, both application of the Epac-agonist 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP and suppression of PKA activity impair phagocytosis, indicating that the Epac-Rap pathway suppresses and the PKA-dependent phosphorylation enhances phagocytosis [5, 36]. Extracellular modulators, like NA, activate cAMP-dependent pathways [29]. In microglia noradrenergic agonists either increase or decrease phagocytosis [3, 5]. Among the ion channels, whose activities are modulated by PKA- as well as Epac-dependent processes are Cl- channels. In microglial cells, PKA activates a Cl- conductance [37]. In rat hepatocytes, the Epac agonist 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP activates a Cl- current, which has similar properties as the swelling-activated Cl- current [38]. Although a cAMP-PKA-dependent pathway activates a Cl- conductance in microglial cells [37], we found that a cAMP/Epac-dependent pathways suppresses phagocytosis [5]. Thus, the Epac-dependent suppression of phagocytosis resembles impairment of phagocytosis following blockade of Cl- channels in microglial cells [13].

In the present study we performed patch-clamp recordings and quantification of phagocytosis to estimate the association between cAMP-dependent modulation of the swelling-activated Cl- current ICl,swell with cAMP-dependent phagocytosis. Our perforated patch-clamp recordings revealed that both the Epac agonist 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP and the PKA-antagonist H89 suppressed ICl,swell, which indicates that PKA-dependent mechanisms increase ICl,swell. Further, NA and the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (ISOP) transiently suppressed osmotically-activated ICl,swell. Compared to hypotonic solution alone, its simultaneous application with ISOP leads, however, to faster activation kinetics of the current, as indicated by a left-shift of the T50 value (i.e. time to half-maximal current activation), hence indicating on the long term rather an activation than inhibition of ICl,swell.

 

 

Materials and Methods

 

Chemicals and solutions

Unless stated otherwise, all chemicals were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich. The stock solution of (1) DL-norepinephrine hydrochloride (50 mg/mL) was prepared in ultrapure water, stored at -20°C; (2) (±)-propranolol hydrochloride (12 mg/4 mL) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), stored at 4°C; (3) phentolamine hydrochloride (12 mg/4 mL) in ultrapure water, stored at -20°C; (4) N-[2-(p-Bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide dihydrochloride (H89) (5 mg/mL) in sterile ultrapure water, stored at 4°C; (5) yohimbine hydrochloride (10 mg/4 mL) in ultrapure water, stored at -20°C; (6) metaraminol (+)-bitartrate salt (200 mg/4 mL) in ultrapure water, stored at -20°C; (7) (R)-(−)-phenylephrine hydrochloride (20 mg/mL) in ultrapure water, stored at 4°C; (8) DCPIP (4-[(2-Butyl-6, 7-dichloro-2-cyclopentyl-2, 3-dihydro-1-oxo-1H-inden-5-yl)oxy]butanoic acid) in ethanol, stored at -20°C. The stock solutions were diluted in serum-free DMEM or Ringer solution to appropriate concentrations for respective cell treatment. Working solutions were prepared immediately prior to their application.

 

Cell culture

Primary microglial cells were isolated from forebrains of 1–5 day-old wild-type C57 black 6J mice as previously described [17, 26, 39]. Animals were handled according to federal law. In brief, mice were decapitated followed by mechanical dissociation of cerebral cortices through centrifugation. Afterwards, the cell suspension was filtered using a 70 μm cell strainer (BD Biosciences) and cultivated in 0.1% poly-D-lysine (PDL)-coated 75 cm2 culture flasks in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) containing 4.5 g/L glucose, L-glutamine and sodium pyruvate (PAA Laboratories) supplemented with 10% (v/v) FCS and 1% (v/v) penicillin/streptomycin (Gibco) at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere and 5% CO2. After 10–14 days in co-cultivation with adherent astrocytes, microglial cells were harvested via shaking from the astrocyte monolayer [40] for 3 h. The supernatant, containing >97% primary microglia was used for experiments.

Microglial BV-2 cells, generated by infecting primary mouse microglia with a v-raf/v-myconcogen-carrying-retrovirus (J2) [41], were grown and maintained in 25 cm2 culture flasks in DMEM supplemented with 2.2 g/L glucose and 10% (v/v) fetal calf serum (FCS; Biochrom) at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere and 5% CO2 and sub-cultured once a week. For experiments, BV-2 cells as well as primary microglial cells were seeded into Petri dishes on PDL-coated glass coverslips (diameter 12 mm) at a density of 8×104 cells/ml and allowed to adhere overnight for up to 18 h. Following two washing steps, cells were left untreated or treated with the respective solvents (control) or with reagents as indicated.

 

Determination of phagocytosis by scanning electron microscopy

In each engulfment experiment, cells were cultured in 2 mL serum-free DMEM for 45 min. Cells were pretreated with NA, ISOP, phenylephrine, metaraminol, phentolamine, propranolol for 5 min, with 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP for 15 min and with H89 for 30 min. Then, cells were exposed to 4 μm IgG-coated hydrophobic microspheres (Invitrogen) in the absence or presence of adrenergic agonists, antagonists, 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP, or H89 for 15 min.

For Scanning electron microscopy cells were fixed after the respective treatments in 2.5% (v/v) glutaraldehyde (Agar Scientific Limited) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.2–7.4) for 1 h, rinsed four times with PBS for 1 h and subsequently dehydrated in a graded series of ethanol (50, 70, 80, 90, 96, 100% v/v). Thereafter, cells were air-dried for two times using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) (Fluka/Sigma-Aldrich). Coverslips were attached on pins and 12 times for 15 seconds sputter-coated with a 50 nm layer of gold using an Agar Sputter Coater. Samples were visualized with a Cambridge Stereoscan 250 scanning electron microscope (Cambridge Instruments). For evaluation of the engulfment experiments only the numbers of completely engulfed microspheres were used.

 

Electrophysiology

BV-2 cells were plated on 0.01% PDL-coated glass coverslips (diameter 12 mm) and cultured for at least 24 h in DMEM. Coverslips were transferred to an RC-25 recording chamber and mounted on a Nikon Eclipse inverted microscope. All experiments were performed at room temperature and were recorded in the whole-cell (ruptured or perforated) patch clamp mode. Ruptured whole-cell mode was achieved by applying a slight suction through the pipette whereas the perforated whole-cell configuration was achieved by adding 130 μM amphotericin B to the pipette solution. Recordings were started as soon as the serial resistance was below 30 MΩ for the perforated and below 10 MΩ for the ruptured configuration. Patch electrode resistances were 3–7 MΩ. After establishing the whole-cell configuration the cells were superfused with an isotonic extracellular solution and data were recorded using an EPC-10 amplifier controlled by PatchMaster software (HEKA). Cell membrane potential (Vmem) recordings were performed in the zero-current clamp mode and whole-cell currents were monitored using 500 ms voltage ramps from -100 mV to +100 mV. Ramps were elicited every 10 seconds and the holding potential between the ramps was kept at -70 mV. For Vmem and whole-cell recordings the same intra- and extracellular solutions were used. The intracellular (pipette) solution contained (in mM): 70 K2SO4, 10 NaCl, 10 KCl, 4 MgCl2, 2 CaCl2, 5 HEPES free acid, 5 EGTA (249 mOsm/kg, pH 7.2 adjusted with KOH). The extracellular solution contained (in mM): 140 NaCl, 5.6 KCl, 2.5 CaCl2, 1.5 MgCl2, 10 HEPES free acid, 4.5 D-glucose, 5 mannitol (300 mOsm/kg, pH 7.4 adjusted with NaOH). Whole-cell Cl- currents were elicited using the same ramp protocol with a holding potential kept at 0 mV to avoid any voltage-activated currents. The intracellular solution for the Cl- current recordings contained (in mM): 100 CsCl, 5 MgCl2, 10 HEPES free acid, 11 EGTA, 65 D-(+)-raffinose, 2 MgATP (306 mOsm/kg, pH 7.2 adjusted with CsOH). The isosmotic extracellular solution contained (in mM): 100 NaCl, 2.5 CaCl2, 2.5 MgCl2, 10 HEPES free acid, 95 mannitol (302 mOsm/kg, pH 7.2 adjusted with NaOH). Swelling-activated Cl- currents (ICl,swell) were elicited by superfusion with a 70% hypoosmotic extracellular solution (210 mOsm/kg) obtained by omission of mannitol. Reagents like NA, ISOP, H89 and 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP were applied with a hyposmotic extracellular solution after reaching steady-state ICl,swell. Bath solution exchange was performed with a valve-controlled gravity-driven perfusion system (ALA Scientific Instruments) at a flow rate of 3–5 mL/min. Osmolalities of intra- and extracellular solutions were measured using a vapor pressure osmometer (Wescor). The relative anion permeabilities were calculated as described elsewhere [42].

 

Statistical analysis

All data are presented as mean±SEM (standard error of the means). Statistical analyses were performed using Prism 7 (GraphPad Software). Patch clamp data were analyzed with Fit-Master software (HEKA) and Igor Pro 6 (Wave Metrics). Exponential and sigmoidal fits were done using Igor Pro 6 and Prism 7, respectively. In phagocytosis-experiments, 200-300 cells were counted in randomly selected microscopic fields. Each experiment was repeated at least three times. Ordinary or repeated measures one-way ANOVA (Tukey’s post-hoc test), paired or unpaired double-sided t-tests were used as applicable to test the levels of significance. Results were regarded as statistically significant at p<0.05. Graphs were created with GraphPad Prism 7 and Igor Pro 6.

 

 

Results

 

Noradrenaline triggers a variety of intracellular signaling cascades [29], which could be extenuated or even eliminated during whole-cell recordings when the cell is dialyzed with the pipette solution. Therefore, to minimize disturbances of intracellular signaling cascades during single-cell recordings, we monitored the membrane potential (Vmem) as well as ion currents during application of adrenergic agonists using the amphotericin B perforated patch-clamp technique.

 

Characteristics of ICl,swell

Replacement of the isotonic by the hypotonic saline (210 mOsm/kg) induced a slowly developing outwardly rectifying current, ICl,swell. Fig. 1 visualizes Cl- currents evoked either by voltage ramps or by voltage steps from -100 mV to +100 mV. The holding potential was kept at 0 mV to inactivate voltage-dependent K+-channels. We observed in the perforated patch recordings an outwardly rectifying current with a reversal potential at 0 mV and slight inactivation at strong positive potentials. To control extra- as well as intracellular ionic composition, we performed ruptured patch clamp experiments to evaluate the permeability of the ICl,swell. Equimolar substitution of Cl- with I- and gluconate- increased and decreased the relative permeability, respectively (PI/PCl=1.48±0.08, n=5; Pgluc/PCl=0.19±0.02, n=4). We also observed that the current was completely suppressed by the Cl- channel blocker DCPIB (10 µM; n=3; Fig. 1). In summary, the current is sensitive to (1) osmotic gradients, (2) substitution of Cl- with I- or gluc-, (3) the Cl- channel blocker DCPIB and (4) displays slight inactivation at strong positive potentials. Therefore this current fulfills major criteria of a swelling-activated Cl- current, ICl,swell [13, 15, 18, 26, 43].

 

Fig. 1. Swelling activated Cl- currents (ICl,swell) in BV-2 microglial cells. (A) Representative current-voltage relationship obtained by 500 ms voltage ramps under isotonic and hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of the Cl- channel blocker DCPIB (10 µM). Note that the voltage ramp tracings under isotonic- and hypotonic/DCPIB conditions are superimposed. (B) Representative current traces elicited by 500 ms voltage-steps during the superfusion with isotonic- (upper trace) and hypotonic bath solution in the absence (middle trace) and presence (lower trace) of 10 µM DCPIP. (C) Mean peak currents under isotonic- and hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of 10 µM DCPIB (n=3; asterisks indicate significant differences to hypotonic). (D) Determination of reversal potentials using ruptured whole-cell patch clamp under symmetric intra- and extracellular Cl- concentrations and upon equimolar extracellular substitution of NaCl (Cl-) with NaI (I-) and Na-gluconate (gluc-). The anion replacements lead to shifts of the reversal potential to negative- (I-) and positive (gluc-) values, respectively. Overlay of three representative original tracings. (E) Relative anion permeability (PX/PCl-) for I- and gluc- ions with respect to Cl- as calculated from the shift of the respective reversal potentials as shown in D. Asterisks indicate significant differences to the anion permeability for Cl- (n=3-4). Means±SEM; * p<0.05, ** p<0.01.

 

Noradrenaline (NA) and isoproterenol (ISOP) transiently suppress ICl,swell in microglial cells

Under isotonic conditions neither NA (1 µM) nor ISOP (1 µM) changed Vmem or the basal ion currents, ICl,basal (data not shown; NA: Vmem n=5, ICl,basal n=2; ISOP: Vmem n=4, ICl,basal n=10). In further experiments, cells were exposed to hypotonic conditions and NA was added when ICl,swell had reached a plateau. As shown in Fig. 2, application of the α- and β-adrenergic agonist, NA, induced a profound transient decrease of ICl,swell by about 23%. Six out of 18 cells (33%) did not respond to 1 µM NA and were not included in the statistics (Fig. 2 A, B, C). The suppression of the current was dependent on the NA concentration (Fig. 2 D). Similarly, the β-adrenergic agonist ISOP transiently reduced ICl,swell (Fig. 3 A, B, C). During continued hypotonic conditions the cells were refractory to the same stimulus. As shown in Fig. 2 and 3, removal of and repeated exposure to NA or ISOP during hypotonic conditions resulted in a reduction of the response size; i.e. compared to the first application response, the second one was either absent or diminished. Four out of four (100%) NA-exposed cells and seven out of eight ISOP-exposed cells (87%) did not reveal a detectable decrease of ICl,swell during a second application of NA and ISOP. This indicates a sustained action of the adrenergic agonists on ICl,swell. However, establishing isotonic conditions for a few minutes and re-addition of hypotonic saline re-established the responsiveness of the cells to the same adrenergic agonists, NA and ISOP, leading to a comparable transient reduction of ICl,swell . The time courses of the ICl,swell decrease- and recovery following application of NA or ISOP were similar. The time constants τ of the current decrease and recovery were 1.09±0.20 min and 3.56±0.76 min (n=4) for NA and 0.87±0.12 min and 3.06±0.51 min (n=5) for ISOP, respectively. These findings could indicate that β-adrenergic receptors are functionally connected to temporally segregated mutually inhibiting signaling pathways. Depending on the dominance of one of the signaling pathways, the ion current either increases or decreases. Two candidates of such a dichotomy are PKA and Epac.

 

Fig. 2. Transient inhibition and desensitization of ICl,swell in response to noradrenaline (NA). (A) Time course of ICl,swell of a single experiment under isotonic (ISO) and hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of 1 µM NA. Each circle represents the current obtained every 10 seconds at -100 mV (lower trace) and +100 mV (upper trace). Numbers 1-3 indicate time points during the NA-induced transient reduction phase of ICl,swell, 4 after NA wash out and 5-6 during the second NA application. (a) and (b) are close ups of the ICl,swell time course as indicated by the windows in A. Data were fitted by single exponential functions during ICl,swell reduction (black line) and recovery (grey line), respectively. (B) Representative current-voltage relationships (Vmem ramps from -100 mV to +100 mV) recorded under isotonic conditions, hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of NA and after wash out of NA. (C) Mean amplitudes of ICl,swell under hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of NA as shown in panel A (n=3-12). Numbers 1-6 in brackets refer to the time points of analyses for every condition as indicated by the same numbers in panel A. (D) Relative inhibition of ICl,swell at +100 mV (black bars) and -100 mV (grey bars) by 1 nM, 1 µM and 10 µM NA (n=3-12). Asterisks indicate significant differences to control (CO). Hashes denote significant differences as indicated. Means±SEM; * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001, **** p<0.0001; # p<0.05, ## p<0.01.

Fig. 3. Transient inhibition and desensitization of ICl,swell in response to isoproterenol (ISOP). (A) Time course of ICl,swell of a representative experiment under isotonic (ISO) and hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of 1 µM ISOP. Each circle represents the current obtained every 10 seconds at -100 mV (lower trace) and +100 mV (upper trace). Numbers 1-3 indicate time points during the ISOP-induced transient reduction phase of ICl,swell, 4 after ISOP wash out and 5-6 during the second ISOP application. (a) and (b) are close ups of the ICl,swell time course as indicated by the windows in A. Data were fitted by single exponential functions during ICl,swell reduction (black line) and recovery (grey line), respectively. (B) Representative current-voltage relationships (Vmem ramps from -100 mV to +100 mV) recorded under isotonic and hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of ISOP and after washout of ISOP. (C) Average amplitudes of ICl,swell under hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of 1 µM ISOP. Results of 4-6 individual experiments as shown in panel A (n=4-6). The corresponding time points for every condition (1-6) are indicated in panel A. Asterisks indicate significant differences to control (CO). Hashes indicate significant differences as indicated. Means±SEM; ** p<0.01; # p<0.05, ## p<0.01.

 

Isoproterenol (ISOP) evokes a rapid ICl,swell development when co-applied with a hypotonic solution

In the above experiments, we added the adrenergic agonists after the development of ICl,swell. Because ICl,swell (1) showed a transient decrease following application of adrenergic agonists and (2) was larger compared to pre-application conditions following wash-out at least in some ISOP experiments, the long-lasting effect of adrenergic agonists could be an increase in ICl,swell. Therefore, we exposed cells to hypotonic solution simultaneously with 1 µM ISOP. As shown in Fig. 4, the time courses of activation of ICl,swell differed between cells swollen in hypotonic solution in the absence and presence of ISOP. The time to half-maximal current activation (T50) significantly shifted to the left from 457.7±16.7 (n=7) to 330.2±15.1 seconds (n=6) at +100 mV, and from 504.4±19.3 (n=7) to 371.7±14.3 seconds (n=6) at -100 mV.

 

Fig. 4. Activation of ICl,swell in the presence of isoproterenol (ISOP). (A) Time course of ICl,swell activation under hypotonic conditions in the absence (control, CO; n=7) and presence of 1 µM isoproterenol (ISOP; n=6). Each circle represents the current obtained every 10 seconds at -100 mV (inward currents, lower traces) and +100 mV (outward currents, upper traces). Dotted lines denote 95% confidence intervals. Data were fitted by a sigmoidal Boltzmann function which was used to calculate the time to reach the half-maximal current activation (T50). (B) T50 values for outward currents at +100 mV and inward currents at -100 mV in the absence (control, CO) and presence of 1 µM ISOP. Data were determined from individual sigmoidal Boltzmann fits. Means±SEM. Asterisks denote significant difference from the respective control value. ** p<0.01.

 

The Epac agonist 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP and the PKA-inhibitor H89 persistently suppress ICl,swell

PKA as well as Epac, are potential targets for cAMP, which increases upon β-adrenergic stimulation. Therefore, we evaluated whether these cAMP-activated proteins affect ICl,swell. Following the establishment of ICl,swell, the cells were superfused with the PKA antagonist H89 (Fig. 5) or the Epac agonist 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP (Fig. 6). As shown in Fig. 5, within a few seconds after H89 application the outward current of ICl,swell at +100 mV decreased by 28±8% and the inward current at -100 mV decreased by 30±10% (n=10; two cells did not respond to H89 and were not included in the statistics). In contrast to NA and ISOP, H89 suppressed ICl,swell as long as the drug was present. When applied for a second time, the cells did no longer respond to the PKA inhibitor. Fig. 6 shows that ICl,swell is also sensitive to the Epac agonist 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP. Its addition to the hypotonic solution led to a permanent reduction of the outward current at +100 mV by 33±9% and the inward current at -100 mV by 39±9% (n=6; one cell did not respond to the Epac agonist and was not included in the statistics). Furthermore, ICl,swell tended to be larger after wash-out of 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP at +100 mV (140±26%; n=4) and was significantly larger at -100 mV (158±24%; n=4). The elevated current was also insensitive to the Epac agonist when it was applied for the second time. Notably, the reversal potential of the outwardly rectifying current did not change when H89 or 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP was applied, suggesting that these agents do not affect the ion selectivity in addition to the Cl- conductance. Analysis of the time courses of the ICl,swell suppression and recovery phases revealed single exponential functions. The time constants τ for the decreases were 1.32±0.18 min (n=3) and 1.91±0.64 min (n=3) for H89 and 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP, respectively. Recovery from ICl,swell suppression following drug washout revealed a τ of 4.28±0.73 min (n=3) for H89 and of 4.29±0.31 min (n=3) for 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP.

 

Fig. 5. Reversible persistent inhibition and desensitization of ICl,swell in response to the PKA inhibitor H89. (A) Time course of ICl,swell of a single experiment under isotonic (ISO), hypotonic and hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of H89. Each circle represents the current obtained every 10 seconds at -100 mV (lower trace) and +100 mV (upper trace). 1, ICl,swell during hypotonicity; 2, during the application of H89; 3, after H89-washout; 4-5, during second application of H89. (B) Representative current-voltage relationships (Vmem ramps from -100 mV to +100 mV) recorded under isotonic and hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of H89. (C) Mean amplitudes of ICl,swell under hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of 1 µM H89 as shown in panel A (n=3-8 for conditions 1-3; conditions 4-5 are the means of two single observations (n=2). The corresponding time points for every condition 1-5 are indicated in panel A. Asterisks indicate significant differences to control (CO); hashes indicate significant differences as indicated. Means±SEM; ** p<0.01; # p<0.05; ## p<0.01.

Fig. 6. Reversible persistent inhibition and desensitisation of ICl,swell in response to the Epac- activator 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP (8pCPT). (A) Time course of ICl,swell of a single representative experiment under isotonic (ISO) and hypotonic conditions in the absence and presence of 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP and after washout of the drug. Each circle represents the current obtained every 10 seconds at -100 mV (lower trace) and +100 mV (upper trace). 1 indicates ICl,swell during hypotonicity, 2 during the application of 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP, 3 after 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP-washout, 4-5 during second application of 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP. (B) Representative current-voltage relationships (Vmem ramps from -100 mV to +100 mV) recorded under isotonic and hypotonic conditions in the presence and absence of 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP. (C) Average amplitudes of ICl,swell under hypotonic conditions in the presence and absence of 50 µM 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP. Results of 3-5 individual experiments as shown in panel A (n=3-5). The corresponding timepoints for every condition (1-5) are indicated in panel A. Asterisks indicate significant differences to control (CO). Hashes indicate significant differences as indicated. Means±SEM; * p<0.05; # p<0.05, ## p<0.01.

 

Noradrenaline and the PKA inhibitor H89 impair phagocytosis in microglial cells

According to a proposed model of pseudopodium movement during phagocytosis, which involves ICl,swell to regulate its cell volume [26], and according to our electrophysiological observation that adrenergic agonists modulate ICl,swell, adrenergic responses on phagocytosis are of interest. Uptake of IgG-coated microspheres by microglial cells at the single cell level was quantified using scanning electron microscopy. Fig. 7 and 8 visualize that NA suppresses microsphere uptake in the pM- and nM range as well as above 1 µM. Because NA activates α- as well as β-adrenergic receptors [29], we used α-adrenergic antagonists to isolate the contribution of β-adrenergic receptors to microsphere uptake. Yohimbine, a selective α2-adrenergic antagonist, suppressed microsphere uptake in the presence of 1 pM NA as well as in the presence of 1 µM NA. Phentolamine, an α1- and α2-adrenergic antagonist, decreased microsphere uptake in the presence of 1 µM NA, but not in the presence of 1 pM NA (Fig. 7 D). Surprisingly, metaraminol, an α1- and α2-adrenergic agonist, as well as phenylephrine, an α1-adrenergic agonist, significantly suppressed microsphere uptake (Fig. 7D). Phenylephrine also suppressed microsphere uptake in primary microglial cells (Fig. 8B). The β-adrenergic antagonist propranolol did not affect microsphere uptake in the presence of 1 pM NA, but it decreased it in the presence of 1 µM and 10 µM NA (Fig. 7E).

 

Fig. 7. Noradrenergic suppression of IgG-coated microspheres uptake is mediated by α- and β-adrenergic receptors. Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of microsphere-uptake by BV-2 cells showing that application of α- or β-adrenergic antagonists or agonists as well as suppression of PKA with H89 modulates microsphere uptake. In most experiments, cells were exposed to the drugs for 15 min. In the experiments shown in panel C, cells were exposed to NA for 60 min. Microsphere uptake is normalized to the total number of cells analyzed. Data are shown as means±SEM. (A) Representative BV-2 cell showing attached (one example is shown with an arrowhead) as well as engulfed (one example is shown with an arrow) microspheres. (B) Microsphere-uptake across different NA concentrations. One-way ANOVA revealed a significant suppressive effect between control and 1 pM or 1 nM NA. (C) Bath application of NA for 60 min did not reveal a significant difference between NA and control. (D) Co-application of NA and yohimbine (α2- adrenergic antagonist) or NA and phentolamine (α1- and α2-adrenergic antagonist) as well as application of metaraminol (α1- and α2-adrenergic agonist) and phenylephrine (α1-adrenergic agonist) in the absence (control, CO) and presence of adrenergic agonists (noradrenaline, NA; metaraminol, MET; phenylephrine, PHE) and/or antagonists (Yohimbine, Phentolamine). One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences between control and most treatment conditions (*). Pairwise comparison revealed significant differences between 1 pM NA and co-application of NA and yohimbine, 1 µM NA and co-application of NA and yohimbine, as well as 1 µM NA and co-application of NA and phentolamine (#). (E) Co-application of NA and propranolol (β-adrenergic antagonist). One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences if compared to control (*) or propranolol treatment (#). Pairwise t-test showed a significant difference between 10 µM NA and co-application of NA and propranolol. Comparison of NA (1 pM or 10 µM) alone and NA in the presence of propranolol is indicated by $. (F) Co-application of H89 (PKA antagonist) and phentolamine. One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences when compared to control (*) or H89 treatment (#). Means±SEM; * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001, **** p<0.0001 denote significant difference when compared to control [white bar]; # p<0.05, ## p<0.01, ### p<0.001 denote significant difference when compared to phentolamine [PHE; dark grey bar]); $ p<0.05, $$ p<0.01, denote significant difference when compared to 1 µM NA alone.

Fig. 8. Noradrenergic suppression of IgG-coated microspheres uptake in primary microglial cells. (A) Representative image of primary microglial cells showing attached (one example is shown with an arrow) as well as engulfed (one example is shown with an arrowhead) microspheres. (B) Average effect on microsphere uptake in the absence (CO) [white bar] and presence of (1) the α- and β-adrenergic agonist noradrenaline (NA 1µM) [black bar], (2) the α2-adrenergic antagonist, yohimbine (10 µM) [grey bar], (3) NA (1 µM) in addition yohimbine (10 µM) [hatched bar] and (4) the α1-adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine (PHE 10 µM) [dark grey bar]. Primary microglial cells were exposed to IgG-coated microspheres for 15 min (n=3). Asterisks denote significant differences when compared to control [white bar] and dollar signs $ denote denote significant differences when compared to CO + yohimbine [grey bar]. Hashes indicate significant differences as indicated. Mean±SEM; * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001; $$ p<0.01; # p<0.05.

 

The PKA inhibitor H89, suppressed microsphere uptake in BV-2 cells (Fig. 7F), indicating that a basal PKA activity facilitates microsphere uptake. Fig. 7F visualizes the additive inhibitory effect of NA, phentolamine and H89 on the suppression of microsphere uptake. Surprisingly, we found a similar additive effect of phentolamine and H89 when NA was not applied to the cells.

 

 

Discussion

 

Our findings suggest that NA modulates ICl,swell through two distinct cAMP-dependent pathways. First, adrenergic agonists suppress ICl,swell by a cAMP-Epac-dependent pathway. Second, adrenergic agonists enhance ICl,swell by a cAMP-PKA-dependent pathway. According to our phagocytosis experiments, we suggest an adrenergic-cAMP-Epac-dependent pathway in an early phase, evidenced by a decrease in particle uptake as shown earlier [5]. In a later phase of phagocytosis, we assume an adrenergic-cAMP-PKA-dependent pathway.

 

Modulation of ICl,swell by cAMP-dependent processes

ICl,swell is a ubiquitous anion current in immune cells. Its classical signatures are activation by cell swelling and dependence on intracellular ATP. ATP is required for activation and maintenance of ICl,swell [15, 44, 45]. Whether ATP or one of its metabolites directly or indirectly affects ICl,swell is unknown. Presumably, G-proteins are not involved in ICl,swell activation in microglial cells, because intracellular dialysis of these cells with the non-hydrolysable G-protein activating nucleotide GTPγS had no significant effect on ICl,swell activation in hypo-osmotic conditions [44]. However, swelling of S49 mouse lymphoma cells in hypotonic medium increases adenylate cyclase activity in a G-protein-independent pathway [46]. Further, Ca2+- and bicarbonate ions regulate the soluble adenylyl cyclase [for review sees [31]]. Because VRAC channels, which give rise to ICl,swell, are also permeable to bicarbonate [47], a mutual interaction between soluble adenylyl cyclase and ion channels is conceivable. However, a few studies even demonstrate that a cAMP-PKA-dependent pathway activates a Cl- current in immune cells, which shows similar properties to an osmotically-activated ICl,swell, but is activated under isotonic conditions [37, 48]. Dialysis of BV-2 cells with cAMP or with the catalytic subunit of PKA in the pipette solution activates an outwardly rectifying Cl- current in isotonic conditions [37]. Both, the cAMP-dependent- as well as the PKA-dependent Cl- current are sensitive to the Cl- channel blockers NPPB and flufenamic acid [37]. A similar cAMP-dependent modulation of a Cl- current has been shown in hepatocytes, where a glucagon-cAMP-Epac-dependent pathway activates a Cl- current resembling ICl,swell [49]. Thus, in addition to the classical hallmarks of ICl,swell, the present and a previous study suggest that ICl,swell is modulated by cAMP-dependent pathways [37]. Moreover, it has recently been shown, that ICl,swell of human atrial myocytes is augmented by NA, an effect mimicked by the Epac agonist 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP and inhibited by an Epac antagonist, thus implying that the effect of NA is mediated by an Epac-dependent pathway in these cells [50]. This contrasts the finding of our present study showing an inhibition of ICl,swell by NA and 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP. The reason(s) for this discrepancy is (are) currently unclear but may be due to cell type- and/or species-specific differences, and eventually also due to the technical approach (ruptured vs. perforated whole-cell recordings).

Noradrenergic agonists elevate cAMP in microglial cells [5]. In general, a β-adrenoceptor-GS-adenylyl cyclase-dependent increase in cAMP activates the cAMP-binding proteins PKA and Epac [for review see [29, 31, 32, 51]]. These proteins accumulate at A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs), which are attracted to β-adrenoceptors [for review see [32]]. In our perforated patch clamp experiments on microglial cells, noradrenergic agonists do not affect the Cl- conductance under isotonic conditions (ICl,basal). However, these agonists modulate osmotically-activated ICl,swell. If the osmotic environmental conditions are crucial for sensitizing immune cells to noradrenergic agonists, the lack of studies reporting adrenergic modulation of ICl,swell in immune cells is due to neglecting osmotic gradients across the plasma membrane. The decrease of ICl,swell by application of NA or ISOP to osmotically-activated ICl,swell is mimicked either by Epac activation by 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP or by inhibition of PKA by H89. Compared to the first time applications of adrenergic agonists, subsequent applications caused substantially weaker or lacking suppressive responses of ICl,swell. Similarly, 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP and H89 suppressed ICl,swell when added for the first time, but were ineffective when added for the second time, indicating a use-dependent desensitization of ICl,swell. Our findings that Epac activation mimics the desensitizing effect of repeated adrenergic activation support the assumption that the desensitization is a consequence of switching intracellular signaling pathways [52] [for review see [53]].

 

Noradrenaline, ICl,swell and phagocytosis in microglia

The discussion, whether catecholamines suppress or enhance inflammatory processes is controversial [3, 54-58] [for review see [59]]. Cell volume regulatory processes have been considered to contribute to migration and phagocytosis [13, 21-25, 27, 60, 61]. Both processes are relevant in immune responses. Cellular migration contributes to the deployment of macrophages from lymphoid tissue to the site of inflammation and phagocytosis removes pathogenic particles. Enhancement or suppression of ICl,swell is a ubiquitous modulatory mechanism of RVD in many cell types [for review see [17, 18, 20, 62]]. Blockade of ICl,swell in microglial cells impairs the formation of lamellipodia and engulfment pseudopodia as well as ramifications [9, 13, 26].

In the present study, we demonstrate that ICl,swell is sensitive to cAMP-elevating adrenergic stimulation. In a previous study, we described that the β-adrenergic agonist ISOP, as well as cAMP-elevating agents, like the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), decrease phagocytosis in microglial cells [5]. This observation is in agreement with reports showing an association between an increase in cAMP and a decrease in phagocytosis in alveolar macrophages [33], in macrophages differentiated in vitro from human peripheral monocytes [34], in the human monoblast cell line (U937) [35] and murine microglia [4, 36]. In contrast to these observations, Heneka and co-workers found that NA stimulates phagocytosis in microglia [3]. The difference between our observation and those from Heneka and co-workers could be related to (1) the time of exposure to cAMP-elevating agents (15 minutes in our study versus four hours), (2) the target of phagocytosis (IgG-labeled microspheres versus fibrillary fluorescent-labeled Aβ1-42) and (3) the method of quantification (scanning electron microscopy versus FACScan). Previous studies have demonstrated that cAMP-dependent suppression of phagocytosis involves Epac [5] as well as PKA [34, 36]. Because we observed that an Epac-dependent pathway suppresses ICl,swell (present study) and that Cl- channel blockers impair phagocytosis in microglial cells [13], we suggest that a cAMP-Epac-dependent pathway contributes to a NA- and ISOP-associated suppression of phagocytosis in microglial cells. Because the PKA-blocker H89 suppresses ICl,swell as well as phagocytosis, we suggest that a cAMP-PKA-dependent pathway supports phagocytosis. In the present as well as in a previous study [5], we observed that NA, the β-adrenergic agonist ISOP, the α-adrenergic agonists phenylephrine (α1-adrenergic agonist) and metaraminol (α1- and α2-adrenergic agonist) suppress phagocytosis. Puzzling, the β-adrenergic antagonist, propranolol, and the α-adrenergic antagonists yohimbine (α2-adrenergic antagonist) and phentolamine (α1- and α2-adrenergic antagonist), further enhance NA-induced suppression of phagocytosis (present study). The observations that different messengers evoke different physiological responses using the same second messenger, i.e. cAMP, could be related to the spatial and temporal compartmentalization of the cAMP-response [for review see [31]]. Thus, facilitation as well as suppression of phagocytosis could be related to an increase in cAMP. In a short-term modulation of phagocytosis, a cAMP-Epac-dependent pathway dominates and impairs phagocytosis, whereas in a long-term modulation a cAMP-PKA-dependent pathway could dominate and facilitate phagocytosis. Alternatively, the spatial distribution of ICl,swell enhancing and suppressing cAMP-dependent factors along the proximal distal axis of a phagocytic cup could coordinate particle engulfment. If both cAMP-dependent pathways are activated simultaneously, the formation of a phagocytic cup is impaired. Accordingly, simultaneous application of α- and β-adrenergic agonists or antagonists could impair particle uptake by activating overlapping cAMP-dependent pathways simultaneously.

The present findings may explain the controversial observations of NA on physiological properties of immune cells. Depending on the dominance of either a cAMP-Epac- or a cAMP-PKA-dependent pathway, opposing observations on migration, phagocytosis or additional immunological functions may be the consequence. In a physiological context, the time course of NA release or of removal of NA from the extracellular environment may affect the immunological response: oscillatory or pulsatile release of NA may favor a cAMP-Epac-dependent pathway, whereas a chronic or tonic release may favor a cAMP-PKA-dependent pathway.

 

 

Conclusion

 

In summary, this study provides strong evidence that the β-adrenergic stimulation of microglial BV-2 cells triggers a cAMP-Epac-dependent- and cAMP-PKA-dependent cascade which affects phagocytosis via modulation of the swelling-activated Cl- current, ICl,swell (Fig. 9).

 

Fig. 9. Noradrenergic suppression of the swelling activated Cl- current ICl,swell. Putative model of suppression of ICl,swell by norardrenaline and isoproterenol in microglial cells. The activation of β-adrenergic receptors stimulates a G-protein-adenylate cyclase (AC) system, which catalyses the formation of cAMP. Subsequently, cAMP activates cAMP-binding proteins including PKA and Epac which in turn are involved in the regulation of ICl,swell by yet unknown mechanisms.

 

 

Abbreviations

 

AKAP (A-kinase anchoring protein); AC (adenylyl cyclase); cAMP (3’-5’-cyclic adenosine monophosphate); DCPIB ((4-[(2-Butyl-6,7-dichloro-2-cyclopentyl-2,3-dihydro-1-oxo-1H-inden-5-yl)oxy]butanoic acid); DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide); Epac (exchange protein activated by cAMP); HMDS (hexamethyldisilazane); MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine); Gluc (Gluconate; H89 (N-[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide dihydrochloride ); IBMX (phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine); ICl,swell (swelling-activated chloride (Cl-) current); ISOP (Isoproterenol); PDE (phosphodiesterase); NA (noradrenaline); NPPB ((5-Nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid)); PKA (cAMP-dependent protein kinase A); PKC (protein kinase C); RVD (regulatory volume decrease); RVI (regulatory volume increase); VRAC (volume regulated anion current); 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP (8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)-2’-O-methyladenosine-3’,5’-cyclic monophosphate ;in Fig. 6 also abbreviated as 8pCPT)).

 

 

Acknowledgements

 

The first author was supported by the Doctoral College “Interdisciplinary Stress Physiology” of the University of Salzburg and by the Forschungsförderungsfonds of the Paracelsus Medical University (PMU-FFF) grant Nr. R-15/05/073-KIT.

 

 

Disclosure Statement

 

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

 

 

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