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ATP Release and P 2 Y Receptor Signaling are Essential for Keratinocyte Galvanotaxis
Author(s) -
Riding Aimie,
Pullar Christine E.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.25070
Subject(s) - purinergic receptor , keratinocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , connexin , gap junction , cell migration , receptor , chemistry , in vitro , biophysics , biology , extracellular , biochemistry , intracellular
Repair to damaged tissue requires directional cell migration to heal the wound. Immediately upon wounding an electrical guidance cue is created with the cathode of the electric field (EF) located at the center of the wound. Previous research has demonstrated directional migration of keratinocytes toward the cathode when an EF of physiological strength (100–150 mV/mm) is applied in vitro, but the “sensor” by which keratinocytes sense the EF remains elusive. Here we use a customized chamber design to facilitate the application of a direct current (DC) EF of physiological strength (100 mV/mm) to keratinocytes whilst pharmacologically modulating the activation of both connexin hemichannels and purinergic receptors to determine their role in EF‐mediated directional keratinocyte migration, galvanotaxis. In addition, keratinocytes were exposed to DiSCAC 2 (3) dye to visualize membrane potential changes within the cell upon exposure to the applied DC EF. Here we unveil ATP‐medicated mechanisms that underpin the initiation of keratinocyte galvanotaxis. The application of a DC EF of 100 mV/mm releases ATP via hemichannels activating a subset of purinergic P 2 Y receptors, locally, to initiate the directional migration of keratinocytes toward the cathode in vitro, the center of the wound in vivo. The delineation of the mechanisms underpinning galvanotaxis extends our understanding of this endogenous cue and will facilitate the optimization and wider use of EF devices for chronic wound treatment. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 181–191, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.