The P2X7 Receptor is a Master Regulator of Microparticle and Mitochondria Exchange in Mouse Microglia
Simonetta Falzoni, Valentina Vultaggio-Poma, Paola Chiozzi, Mario Tarantini, Elena Adinolfi, Paola Boldrini, Anna Lisa Giuliani, Giampaolo Morciano, Yong Tang, Dariusz C. Górecki, Francesco Di Virgilio
Abstract
Microparticles (MPs) are secreted by all cells, where they play a key role in intercellular communication, differentiation, inflammation, and cell energy transfer. P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) activation by extracellular ATP (eATP) causes a large MP release and affects their contents in a cell-specific fashion. We investigated MP release and functional impact in microglial cells from P2X7R-WT or P2X7R-KO mice, as well as mouse microglial cell lines characterized for high (N13-P2X7RHigh) or low (N13-P2X7RLow) P2X7R expression. P2X7R stimulation promoted release of a mixed MP population enriched with naked mitochondria. Released mitochondria were taken up and incorporated into the mitochondrial network of the recipient cells in a P2X7R-dependent fashion. NLRP3 and the P2X7R itself were also delivered to the recipient cells. Microparticle transfer increased the energy level of the recipient cells and conferred a pro-inflammatory phenotype. These data show that the P2X7R is a master regulator of intercellular organelle and MP trafficking in immune cells.