Expression of P2Y receptors in cell lines derived from the human lung

1 Northern blotting experiments have been performed with RNA extracted from several cell lines derived from the human lung in order to detect P2Y(1), P2Y(2), P2Y(4), and P2Y(6), mRNA. We have investigated the 1HAEo- and 16HBE 14o- epithelial cell lines derived from the airway epithelium, the A549 cel l line displaying properties of type II alveolar epithelial cells, the CALU -3 serous cells, the 6CFSMEo- submucosal cells and the HASMSC1 airway smoot h muscle cells. We have also evaluated one pancreatic epithelial cell line called CFPAC-1. These experiments revealed that P2Y(2), and P2Y(6), mRNA ar e co-expressed in the 1HAEo -, 16HBE14o - and A549 epithelial cell lines. T n; CFPAC-1 pancreatic cell line was strongly positive for the P2Y(2), recep tor. No signal was obtained for the P2Y(1) and P2Y(4), receptors. 2 We have then performed RT-PCR experiments with specific oligonucleotides of these last two P2Y receptors with the RNA used for the Northern blotting experiments. P2Y4 mRNA was detected in five cell lines: 1HAEo-. 16HBE14o-, 6CFSMEo-, HASMSC1 and CFPAC-1. P2Y mRNA was only detected in the CALU-3 ce ll line. 3 Inositol trisphosphates assays have identified a response typical of the P2Y(2) receptor in the 1HAEo - and the 16HBE14o - airway epithelial cell li nes which co-express P2Y: and P2Y, mRNA. By contrast, the 6CFSMEo- submucos al cells expressed a UTP-specific response which displayed pharmacological characteristics compatible with the human P2Y(4) receptor: in particular, t here was no response to UDP or ATP and the UTP effect was totally inhibited by pertussis toxin.