P2X4 receptor regulates alcohol-induced responses in microglia.

ABSTRACT: Mounting evidence indicates that alcohol-induced neuropathology may result from multicellular responses in which microglia cells play a prominent role. Purinergic receptor signaling plays a key role in regulating microglial function and, more importantly, mediates alcohol-induced effects. Our findings demonstrate that alcohol increases expression of P2X4 receptor (P2X4R), which alters the function of microglia, including calcium mobilization, migration and phagocytosis. Our results show a significant up-regulation of P2X4 gene expression as analyzed by real-time qPCR (***p < 0.002) and protein expression as analyzed by flow cytometry (**p < 0.004) in embryonic stem cell-derived microglial cells (ESdM) after 48 hours of alcohol treatment, as compared to untreated controls. Calcium mobilizat

SUBMITTER: Gofman L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4209197 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature