Key pointsr Carotid body chemoreceptors are organized in clusters containing receptor type I and contiguous glial-like type II cells.r While type I cells depolarize and release ATP during chemostimulation, the role of type II cells which express purinergic P2Y2 receptors (P2Y2Rs) and ATP-permeable pannexin-1 (Panx-1) channels, is unclear. r We propose that reciprocal crosstalk between type I and type II cells contributes to sensory processing in the carotid body via purinergic signalling pathways.
AbstractThe mammalian carotid body (CB) is excited by blood-borne stimuli including hypoxia and acid hypercapnia, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular reflex responses. This chemosensory organ consists of innervated clusters of receptor type I cells, ensheathed by processes of adjacent glial-like type II cells. ATP is a major excitatory neurotransmitter released from type I cells and type II cells express purinergic P2Y2 receptors (P2Y2Rs), the activation of which leads to the opening of ATP-permeable, pannexin-1 (Panx-1) channels. While these properties support crosstalk between type I and type II cells during chemotransduction, direct evidence is lacking. To address this, we first exposed isolated rat chemoreceptor clusters to acute hypoxia, isohydric hypercapnia, or the depolarizing stimulus high K + , and monitored intracellular [Ca 2+ ] using Fura-2. As expected, these stimuli induced intracellular [Ca 2+ ] elevations ( [Ca 2+ ] i ) in type I cells. Interestingly, however, there was often a delayed, secondary [Ca 2+ ] i in nearby type II cells that was reversibly inhibited by the P2Y2R antagonist suramin, or by the nucleoside hydrolase apyrase. By contrast, type II cell stimulation with the P2Y2R agonist uridine-5 -triphosphate (100 μM) often led to a delayed, secondary [Ca 2+ ] i response in nearby type I cells that was reversibly inhibited by the Panx-1 blocker carbenoxolone (5 μM). This [Ca 2+ ] i response was also strongly inhibited by blockers of either the adenosine A 2A receptor (SCH 58261) or of the 5 -ectonucleotidase (AOPCP), suggesting it was due to adenosine arising from breakdown of ATP released through Panx-1 channels. Collectively, these data strongly suggest that purinergic signalling mechanisms mediate crosstalk between CB chemoreceptor and glial cells during chemotransduction.