Extracellular ATP inhibits starvation-induced apoptosis via P2x2 receptors in differentiated rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells

Apoptosis in neuronal tissue is an efficient mechanism which contributes to both normal cell development and pathological cell death. The present study explored the effects of extracellular ATP on starvation-induced apoptosis in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Incubation of differentiated PC12 cells with ATP for 6h suppressed apoptosis. 2-Methylthio-ATP, a P2 purinoceptor agonist, was as potent as ATP in suppressing apoptosis, whereas adenosine, ADP, alpha,beta methylene-ATP or UTP was totally ineffective. The suppressive action of ATP was dependent upon the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and blocked by co-incubation with the P2 antagonist, suramin. DNA ladder formation, a typical symptom of apoptosis in starved cells, was inhibited by ATP, 2-methylthio-ATP but not by UTP. These results suggest that the inhibitory action of extracellular ATP on apoptotic cell death is mediated via the activation of P2X2 receptors in differentiated PC12 cells.