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The absence of P2X7 receptors (P2rx7) on non-haematopoietic cells leads to selective alteration in mood-related behaviour with dysregulated gene expression and stress reactivity in mice
Open accessAbstract
The purpose of this study was to explore how genetic deletion and pharmacological antagonism of the P2X7 receptor (P2rx7) alter mood-related behaviour, gene expression and stress reactivity in the brain. The forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion (AH) tests were used in wild-type (P2rx7+/+) and P2rx7-deficient (P2rx7−/−) mice. Biogenic amine levels were analysed in the amygdala and striatum, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone levels were measured in the plasma and pituitary after restraint stress. Chimeric mice were generated by bone marrow transplantation. A whole genome microarray analysis with real-time polymerase chain reaction validation was performed on the amygdala. In the absence of P2rx7s decreased behavioural despair in the FST, reduced immobility in the TST and attenuated amphetamine-induced hyperactivity were detected. Basal norepinephrine levels were elevated in the amygdala, whereas stress-induced ACTH and corticosterone responses were alleviated in P2rx7−/− mice. Sub-acute treatment with the selective P2rx7 antagonist, Brilliant Blue G, reproduced the effect of genetic deletion in the TST and AH test in P2rx7+/+ but not P2rx7−/− mice. No change in behavioural phenotype was observed in chimeras lacking the P2rx7 in their haematopoietic compartment. Whole genome microarray analysis indicated a widespread up- and down-regulation of genes crucial for synaptic function and neuroplasticity by genetic deletion. Here, we present evidence that the absence of P2rx7s on non-haematopoietic cells leads to a mood-stabilizing phenotype in several behavioural models and suggest a therapeutic potential of P2rx7 antagonists for the treatment of mood disorders.
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![Fig. 2. Changes in the content of norepinephrine (NE) (a), dopamine (DA) (b), 5-HT (c) in the amygdala; dopamine content in the striatum (d) and release of [3H]dopamine (e) in acute striatal slices in the absence of P2rx7. (a–d) P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice were treated with saline (Sal) or amphetamine (Amph, 2.5 mg/kg i.p.) and 30 min after the treatment were decapitated. NE, DA and 5-HT levels were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography in the amygdala and striatum and are expressed in pmol/mg protein. * Indicates significant differences between P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice and between Sal- and Amph-treated groups, as indicated (n = 7–8/group, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, two-way analysis of variance followed by Fischer's LSD test). (e) Basal, electrical field stimulation (EFS)- and Amph-induced [3H]dopamine efflux from striatal slices of P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice. Striatal slices were incubated with [3H]dopamine and superfused with Krebs’ solution. EFS (20 V, 2 Hz, 240 shocks) and Amph (30 μm) were applied as indicated by the horizontal bars. The efflux of [3H]dopamine is expressed as fractional release, which represents the tritium content in a sample as a percentage of the actual total tritium content. Amph-induced [3H]dopamine release was significantly decreased in striatal slices of P2rx7−/− mice, whereas basal and electrical stimulation-induced efflux remained unchanged. n = 8/group, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, Student's t test.](/paper-figures/3f99e4994cef42c8bc5e43993511fd8e/the-absence-of-p2x7-receptors-p2rx7-on-non-haematopoietic-cells-leads-to-figure-2.jpg)
![Fig. 3. P2rx7−/− mice [grey bars in (a) and (b)] respond with a decreased elevation of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone in the plasma (a, b) and pituitary (c) and increased norepinephrine (NE) level (d) in the amygdala to stress. Hormonal secretion was evaluated after 30 min of restraint. Plasma levels of ACTH (a) and corticosterone (b) were measured by radioimmunoassay of trunk blood (n = 9–10). The resting ACTH and corticosterone levels were not affected by genotype. Restraint significantly increased the level of both hormones, but the elevation of ACTH levels reached the level of significance in P2rx7+/+ animals (clear bars) only (p = 0.03). (c) The ACTH response to 5 × 10−8 m corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) was studied in vitro (n = 10 per group). Fifteen-min fractions were collected. CRH treatment significantly increased ACTH secretion. This effect was dependent on the genotype and there was a significantly smaller response in P2rx7−/− mice. C, control; Res, exposed to 30-min restraint. Post-hoc comparisons: * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01 vs. control; #p < 0.05 vs. P2rx7+/+. (d) The level of NE, dopamine (DA) and 5-HT was analysed by high performance liquid chromatography in the amygdalae of P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice after 30 min restraint. The results are expressed as pmol/mg protein. * Represents a significant difference between P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− animals, n = 10–12/group, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, Student's t test.](/paper-figures/3bb9812ff569432f926290ce58700380/the-absence-of-p2x7-receptors-p2rx7-on-non-haematopoietic-cells-leads-to-figure-3.jpg)

![Fig. 5. Mood-stabilizing phenotype is not detectable in chimeric mice transplanted with the bone marrow of P2rx7−/− mice. (a) General scheme of bone marrow transplantation. (b) Flow cytometric analysis of the expression of the donor-specific CD45.2 allele on peripheral blood granulocytes of an intact C57BL/6J mouse (donor), a CD45.1-expressing congenic mouse (recipient) and bone marrow chimeras engrafted with P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− bone marrow cells (P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− chimeras, respectively). (c–f) Immunocytochemical demonstration of the P2rx7 in mouse microglial cells. Co-localization of P2rx7s (labelled red) with microglial labelling CD11b (green) was found in microglia cells retrieved from P2rx7+/+ mouse brain tissue (c) and in chimeras transplanted with P2rx7+/+ bone marrow [(e) CD45.1/ P2rx7+/+]. Microglial cells of P2rx7−/− animals (d) did not show P2rx7 immunoreactivity. In chimeras transplanted with P2rx7−/− bone marrow [(f), CD45.1/P2rx7−/−], the P2rx7 (labelled red) was not found on microglial cells (labelled green) but was in some unidentified cells and cell debris in the cell suspension/fraction. Electron microscopy supported this finding. The cell membrane of morphologically characterized microglial cells – dark nuclei, either oval or bean shaped, electron dense cytoplasm, long cisternae of granular endoplasmic reticulum and large inclusions of phagocytosed material in the cell bodies that are commonly found in old animals – were covered by diaminobenzidine precipitates, demonstrating P2rx7 immunoreactivity (c and e rows). Cell processes of unidentified cells also showed P2rx7 immunoreactivity (e). Microglial cells of P2rx7 gene knockout animals (d) or microglial cells from CD45.1/P2rx7−/− animals (f) were free of precipitate. (g, h) Basal immobility time in the tail suspension test (g) and amphetamine-induced hyperactivity (h) were not different in CD45.1/P2rx7+/+ and CD45.1/P2rx7−/− mice. Mice were submitted to behaviour tests 8 wk after engraftment (n = 13–14/group).](/paper-figures/10adab58ca874d7594abfdc246cc35c1/the-absence-of-p2x7-receptors-p2rx7-on-non-haematopoietic-cells-leads-to-figure-5.jpg)

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“Noteworthy, gene knockout or pharmacological inhibition of P2X7 receptors induced antidepressant-like behavior in mice exposed to stress, accompanied by HPA axis restoration [163, 164].”
From Hyperactivation of P2X7 receptors as a culprit of COVID-19 neuropathology (2021) · cites this paper as [164]
In the citing paper
“Evidence from pharmacological studies have further corroborated this hypothesis, since treatment with P2X7R antagonists induce antidepressant-like effects in various animal models.”
From P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Stress and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as [85]
In the citing paper
“Altogether, data from P2X7R KO mice indicates that absence of the P2X7R results in increased resilience to stress, and a phenotype showing less depression-like characteristics.”
From P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Stress and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as [85]
In the citing paper
“Additional studies further corroborated these initial findings, with observations that P2X7R KO mice presents reduced immobility time in both the FST [85] and the TST [20,85].”
From P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Stress and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as [85]
In the citing paper
“Altogether, both pharmacological and genetic evidence strongly suggest that P2X7R stimulation during stress increase the vulnerability and subsequent development of behavioral adversities associated with the neurobiology of depression (Table 2).”
From P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Stress and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as [85]
In the citing paper
“and decreased the immobility time of mice exposed to TST [85].”
From P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Stress and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as [85]
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Citations
Cites
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MethodFrom inflammation to sickness and depression: when the immune system subjugates the brain
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“Circulating cytokines, including IL-1b, are important mediators of depressive-like behaviour (Dantzer et al. 2008) and, therefore, peripheral IL-1b could be a mediator of P2rx7 activation on mood-related changes.”
BackgroundBehavioral despair in mice: a primary screening test for antidepressants.
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The Cytolytic P 2Z Receptor for Extracellular ATP Identified as a P 2X Receptor (P2X 7 )
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“The homo-oligomeric P2rx7 (Surprenant et al. 1996) has distinct structural, functional and pharmacological features within the P2X receptor family (Jarvis & Khakh, 2009 ; Sperlagh et al. 2006) : (1) its intracellular carboxyl-terminal domain is longer than those of other P2X receptor subunits ; (2)…”
BackgroundCryan, J. F., Mombereau, C., & Vassout, A. (2005) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2005.03.009 · Cited by 1,674 · cited 1×
“Automated tail suspension test (TST) This test was performed using an automated tail suspension device (BIO-TST2, Bioseb, France), following the method described in Cryan et al. (2005), which was connected to a computer that recorded the activity of the animals during test sessions.”
MethodA review of the validity and variability of the Elevated Plus-Maze as an animal model of anxiety
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Altered Cytokine Production in Mice Lacking P2X7Receptors
Solle, M., Labasi, J. M., Perregaux, D. G., Stam, E. J., Petrushova, N., Koller, B. H., Griffiths, R., & Gabel, C. A. (2001) · Journal of Biological Chemistry · doi:10.1074/jbc.m006781200 · Cited by 924 · cited 4×
“A major immunomodulatory function of P2rx7 activation is that it acts as a necessary costimulus for the post-translational processing and subsequent release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1b in peripheral immune cells in response to bacterial endotoxin (Ferrari et al. 2006; Solle et al. 2001).”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Cited by
Sorted by citations
P2X7 receptor: an emerging target in central nervous system diseases
Sperlágh, B., & Illes, P. (2014) · Trends in Pharmacological Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tips.2014.08.002 · Cited by 390
Self-citationIwata, M., Ota, K. T., Li, X.-Y., Sakaue, F., Li, N., Dutheil, S., Banasr, M., Duric, V., Yamanashi, T., Kaneko, K., et al. (2016) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.11.026 · Cited by 387
“This finding is consistent with a report that a nonselective P2X7R antagonist decreases immobility in the FST only after repeated testing (59).”
Update of P2X receptor properties and their pharmacology: IUPHAR Review 30
Illés, P., Müller, C. E., Jacobson, K. A., Grütter, T., Nicke, A., Fountain, S. J., Kennedy, C., Schmalzing, G., Jarvis, M. F., Stojilković, S. S., et al. (2020) · British Journal of Pharmacology · doi:10.1111/bph.15299 · Cited by 327
“The beneficial effects of BBB-permeable P2X7 receptor antagonists in AD animal models also support the notion of pathological microglial activation in AD (Csölle et al., 2013).”
BackgroundP2X7 Receptors: Channels, Pores and More
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“[154] Gene Deletion”
BackgroundThe microglial ATP‐gated ion channel P2X7 as a CNS drug target
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“…in a model of sucrose consumption that is reflective of hedonic behavior, pharmacological antagonism of P2X7 (by AZ-10606120 and A-804598) restored the deficit observed in drinking sucrosewater (anhedonia) either under chronic stress or by systemic administration of LPS (Csolle et al., 2013b).”
BackgroundInfluential
Metadata
- Authors
- Csölle, C., Andó, R. D., Kittel, Á., Gölöncsér, F., Baranyi, M., Soproni, K., Zelena, D., Haller, J., Németh, T., Mócsai, A., & Sperlágh, B.
- Affiliations
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (IEM HAS), Budapest, Hungary
- HUN-REN Institute of Experimental Medicine (HU)
- Semmelweis University (HU)
- Corresponding author
- Sperlágh, Beáta
- ORCID
- Venue
- International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2013-02-01
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 213-233
- ISSN
- 1461-1457 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-5111
- PMC
- PMC3666310
- OpenAlex
- W2102853311
- Semantic Scholar
- 6b74d60ae26da2b868b16b175ff8521099b8edeb
- Cited by
- 108
- References
- 80
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 5.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-sa
- Locations
- The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) (acceptedVersion)
- Semmelweis University Repository (Semmelweis University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust (087782)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Physiology › Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- P2X7 receptor, depression-like behavior, anxiety-like behavior, stress reactivity, Brilliant Blue G, P2X7 antagonists, norepinephrine, amygdala, striatum, ACTH, corticosterone, hematopoietic cells, gene expression, synaptic function, neuroplasticity, mood disorders
- MeSH terms
- Affect, Amygdala, Animals, Depression, Gene Expression Regulation, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Stress, Psychological, Swimming, Microglia, Mice, Knockout, Mice, Receptors, Purinergic P2X7
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