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Projekt Druckansicht

Expression, function and interaction of purinergic receptor subtypes on glial cells of the retina

Fachliche Zuordnung Klinische Neurologie; Neurochirurgie und Neuroradiologie
Förderung Förderung von 2007 bis 2014
Projektkennung Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 22935240
 
Erstellungsjahr 2015

Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse

Within the subproject 6, we focused our research on the role of P2 receptors on retinal Müller glial cells. One of the numerous functions of these cells is the maintenance of ion and volume homeostasis in the retinal tissue. In a hypotonic solution, Müller cells could keep their volume constant. This behavior is based on a signaling cascade involving purinergic receptors. Using a variety of pharmacological tools and a number of transgenic mice, we could develop a functional scheme of this signaling cascade. We could show that Müller cells release glutamate, ATP and adenosine as gliotransmitters. We developed a method to directly detect released gliotransmitters by microfluorimetry. Whereas glutamate is released via vesicular exocytosis, ATP is set free via hemichannels. Extracellular ATP-degrading enzymes are important for the formation of ADP and adenosine. The signaling cascade and, thus, the volume homeostasis in the retina is disturbed under pathological conditions, such as in the diabetic retina or after transient retinal ischemia. However, as observed particularly in P2Y1-/- mice, the loss of functional P2 receptors may have detrimental as well as neuroprotective effects. P2 receptors are involved in some of the essential functions of glial cells within the nervous tissue. To understand the active role of glial cells in the interplay with neurons, further investigation of the role of purinergic signaling will be of eminent importance.

Projektbezogene Publikationen (Auswahl)

 
 

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