UTP activates small-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels in murine detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells

Abstract

Purines induce transient contraction and prolonged relaxation of detrusor muscles. Transient contraction is likely due to activation of inward currents in smooth muscle cells, and prolonged relaxation may be due to activation of small-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (SK) channels via P2Y₁ receptors expressed by detrusor PDGF receptor (PDGFR)α⁺ cells. We investigated whether other subtypes of P2Y receptors are involved in the activation of SK channels in PDGFRα⁺ cells of detrusor muscles. Quantitative analysis of transcripts revealed that P2ry2, P2ry4, and P2ry14 are expressed in PDGFRα⁺ cells of P2ry1-deficient/enhanced green fluorescent protein (P2ry1^−/−/eGFP) mice at similar levels as in wild-type mice. UTP, a P2Y₂/P2Y₄ agonist, activated large outward currents in detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells. SK channel blockers and an inhibitor of phospholipase C completely abolished currents activated by UTP. In contrast, UTP activated nonselective cation currents in smooth muscle cells. Under current-clamp (current = 0), UTP induced significant hyperpolarization of PDGFRα⁺ cells. MRS2500, a selective P2Y₁ antagonist, did not affect UTP-activated outward currents in PDGFRα⁺ cells from wild-type mice, and activation of outward currents by UTP was retained in P2ry1^−/−/eGFP mice. As a negative control, we tested the effect of MRS2693, a selective P2Y₆ agonist. This compound did not activate outward currents in PDGFRα⁺ cells, and currents activated by UTP were unaffected by MRS2578, a selective P2Y₆ antagonist. The nonselective P2Y receptor blocker suramin inhibited UTP-activated outward currents in PDGFRα⁺ cells. Our data demonstrate that P2Y₂ and/or P2Y₄ receptors function, in addition to P2Y₁ receptors, in activating SK currents in PDGFRα⁺ cells and possibly in mediating purinergic relaxation responses in detrusor muscles.

purinergic signaling is involved in a variety of physiological responses in the urinary bladders of mammals (1, 6, 13). Purines bind to P2X receptors, which are highly expressed by smooth muscle cells (SMC). Activation of P2X receptors in detrusor muscles induces contraction (20, 29). Purines and pyrimidines also activate responses via binding to P2Y receptors, and studies have suggested that binding of P2Y receptors in detrusor muscles induces relaxation (2, 19). Relaxation is mediated by stabilization of membrane excitability of detrusor muscles, and this response may limit contractions of the detrusor during bladder filling.

Small-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (SK) channels constitute an important conductance that serves to stabilize membrane excitability in detrusor muscles. SK channel antagonists or deactivation of SK genes leads to detrusor overactivity (14, 15). This effect may be partially mediated by SK conductance in SMCs (14, 15, 24, 27); however, we recently found that Kcnn3 (which encodes SK3 channels) is highly expressed by PDGF receptor (PDGFR)α⁺ cells and that, in comparison, genes encoding SK channels are minimally expressed by SMCs (18). SMCs display very low current densities attributable to SK conductances, whereas robust SK currents are generated in PDGFRα⁺ cells at holding potentials mimicking physiological membrane potentials. P2ry1 (which encodes P2Y₁ receptors) is also expressed predominantly by PDGFRα⁺ cells in bladder muscles, and binding of P2Y₁ receptors by purine agonists couples to activation of SK channels (19).

There are eight subtypes of P2Y receptors in mammals, including P2Y₁, P2Y₂, P2Y₄, P2Y₆, and P2Y₁₁–P2Y₁₄ (12). P2Y₁, P2Y₂, P2Y₄, P2Y₆, and P2Y₁₁ receptors are coupled to effectors via the G_q/11-phospholipase C (PLC) pathway, whereas P2Y₁₂–P2Y₁₄ receptors are coupled through G_i/o (12). SK channels are Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels, so generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) through coupling via G_q/11 and activation of PLC and release of Ca²⁺ from IP₃ receptor-operated stores is a potential mechanism for activation of SK channels in response to purine or pyrimidine stimulation (19).

We have found that detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells, purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), display enriched expression of P2ry1, P2ry2, and P2ry4 relative to unsorted cells (19). ATP and a selective P2Y₁ agonist activated SK currents in these cells and induced relaxation in intact detrusor muscles, but the outward currents activated by ATP were not abolished in detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells from P2ry1-deficient/enhanced green fluorescent protein (P2ry1^−/−/eGFP) mice (19). P2Y₂ and P2Y₄ receptors are activated preferentially by pyrimidines, such as UTP. Thus, we investigated whether other subtypes of P2Y receptors are possibly linked to activation of SK channels in PDGFRα⁺ cells of detrusor muscles.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Preparation of detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells and SMCs.

Animals were maintained and all experiments were performed in accordance with the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee of the University of Nevada. C57BL/6J and Pdgfra^{tm11(EGFP)Sor}/J (both purchased from Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME) mice (6–12 wk) were used for this study. Pdgfra^{tm11(EGFP)Sor}/J bred with P2ry1^−/− (called P2ry1^−/−/eGFP) mice at 6–12 wk of age were also used for this study. PDGFRα⁺ cells and SMCs were prepared similarly as previously described (18, 19). Briefly, detrusor muscles (with the urothelium removed) were incubated in Ca²⁺-free solution containing 0.5 mg/ml papain and 0.5 mg/ml l-DTT (both from Sigma, St. Louis, MO) at 37°C for 20–25 min, rinsed, and then further digested in Ca²⁺-free solution including 3–5 mg/ml collagenase type II (Sigma) and 100 μM CaCl₂ at 37°C for 40–50 min. Single cells were dissociated by trituration. For PDGFRα⁺ cells, the resulting cell suspensions were plated onto glass coverslips previously coated with murine collagen (2.5 μg/ml, Falcon/BD). PDGFRα⁺ cells were maintained in a humidified atmosphere of 95% O₂-5% CO₂ at 37°C and used for recordings within 6–8 h of tissue digestion. For SMCs, aliquots of the resulting cell suspensions were transferred to a 0.5-ml chamber and allowed to adhere for 10–15 min; cells then were thoroughly rinsed in bath recording solutions.

Cell purification, RNA isolation, RT-PCR, and quantitative PCR.

PDGFRα⁺ cells were purified by FACS (Becton Dickinson FACSAria using the blue laser at 488 nm and the GFP emission detector at 530/30 nm). Total RNA was isolated from PDGFRα⁺ cells using an illustra RNAspin Mini RNA Isolation kit (GE Healthcare, Little Chalfont, UK), and first-strand cDNA was synthesized using SuperScript III (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. PCR was performed with specific primers using Go-Taq Green Master Mix (Promega, Madison, WI). The following PCR primers designed against murine sequences (with GenBank Accession Numbers given in parentheses for the reference nucleotide sequence) were used: Gapdh (NM_008084), P2ry1 (NM_008772), P2ry2 (NM_008773), P2ry4 (NM_020621), P2ry6 (NM_183168), P2ry12 (NM_027571), P2ry13 (NM_028808), and P2ry14 (NM_133200). PCR products were analyzed on 2% agarose gels and visualized by ethidium bromide. Quantitative PCR was performed with the same primers as PCR using Fast Syber green chemistry (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) on a 7900HT Real Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems). Regression analysis of the mean values of three multiplex quantitative PCRs for the log₁₀ diluted cDNA was used to generate standard curves. Unknown amounts of mRNA were plotted relative to the standard curve for each set of primers and graphically plotted using Microsoft Excel. This gave transcriptional quantification of each gene relative to the endogenous Gapdh standard after log transformation of the corresponding raw data.

Patch-clamp recordings.

Patch pipettes were pulled from borosilicate capillaries (Sutter instruments, Novato, CA). When filled with the pipette solution, pipette tip resistances were 3–4 MΩ. The whole cell configuration was achieved in Ca²⁺-containing physiological salt solution bath solution of the following composition (in mM): 135 NaCl, 5 KCl, 1.2 MgCl₂, 2 CaCl₂, 10 glucose, and 10 HEPES, pH 7.4 with Tris base. The pipette solution was of the following composition (in mM): 135 KCl (K⁺-rich)/135 CsCl (Cs⁺-rich), 0.012 CaCl₂, 3 MgATP, 0.1 Na₂GTP, 2.5 creatine phosphate disodium, 0.1 EGTA, 10 glucose, and 10 HEPES, pH 7.2 with Tris base. Cells were placed in a 0.5-ml chamber mounted on an inverted microscope (Nikon). PDGFRα⁺ cells were identified by the fluorescence of eGFP in nuclei. Whole cell recordings were made under voltage- and current-clamp conditions. An Axopatch 200B amplifier with a CV-203BU headstage (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, CA) was used. All data were analyzed using pCLAMP software (Axon Instruments) and Graphpad Prism (version 3.0, Graphpad Software, San Diego, CA). All recordings were made at ∼30°C.

Drugs.

All drugs and reagents including UTP, U-73122, U-73433, MRS2500, MRS2693, MRS2578, suramin, apamin, and UCL1684 were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. UTP was freshly dissolved in Ca²⁺-containing physiological salt solution to the final concentration. Other drugs were made in stock and then diluted to their final concentrations in the bath solution for whole cell recordings.

Statistical analyses.

All data are expressed as means ± SE. All statistical analyses were performed using Graphpad Prism. Student's paired and unpaired t-tests were used to compare groups of data, and differences were considered to be significant at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Transcriptional expression of P2rys in PDGFRα⁺ cells.

As shown in a previous study (19), P2ry2 and P2ry4 are expressed in detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells. We determined P2ry1–P2ry14 in PDGFRα⁺ cells from P2ry1^−/−/eGFP mice (see materials and methods) to allow FACS purification of cells. PDGFRα⁺ cells from these mice showed no transcripts of P2ry1, but P2ry2, P2ry4, and P2ry14 were enriched 2.6-fold, 1.8-fold, and 2.3-fold, respectively, relative to the unsorted population of cells dispersed from detrusor muscles (Fig. 1B). These values are not significantly different from our previous report (19) examining transcripts of P2Y receptors (e.g., P2ry2: 2.1-fold, P2ry4: 2.4-fold, and P2ry14: 2.1 fold compared with unsorted cells) in wild-type mice, suggesting that there is no compensation (i.e., up- or downregulation of expression) of P2ry2, P2ry4, or P2ry14 in P2ry1^−/−/eGFP mice.

Fig. 1.

End-point gels and quantitative analysis of P2ry transcripts in unsorted cells and sorted detrusor PDGF receptor (PDGFR)α⁺ cells from P2ry1-deficient/enhanced green fluorescent protein (P2ry₁^−/−/eGFP) mice. A: all P2rys except P2ry₁ were detected in PDGFRα⁺ cells purified by FACS or in unsorted cells dispersed from detrusor muscles of P2ry₁^−/−/eGFP mice. B: summary graph showing that P2ry2, P2ry4, and P2ry14 were enriched in detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells from P2ry₁^−/−/eGFP mice compared with unsorted cells. P2ry12 and P2ry13 were minimally expressed and thus not displayed. Expression of all transcripts was normalized to Gapdh. qPCR, quantitative PCR. ***P < 0.001.

Responses of PDGFRα⁺ cells and SMCs to UTP.

Patch-clamp experiments using the whole cell configuration were performed to determine the effects of UTP, a nonselective P2Y₂/P2Y₄ agonist, on membrane currents in PDGFRα⁺ cells isolated from wild-type PDGFRα/eGFP mice. When PDGFRα⁺ cells were held at −40 mV, UTP (10 μM) induced large outward currents (Fig. 2, A and C). These responses were repeatable without apparent desensitization (Fig. 2A). The outward current evoked by UTP averaged was 3.9 ± 0.8 pA/pF at a holding potential of −40 mV (n = 20). When cells were ramped from −80 to +80 mV (Fig. 2B, bottom), a small-amplitude outwardly rectifying K⁺ current was evoked under control conditions (Fig. 2B,a). UTP activated large-amplitude outward currents and shifted the reversal potential toward K⁺ equilibrium potential (E_K) (Fig. 2B,b). Under current-clamp conditions (current = 0; Fig. 2C, left), UTP application induced hyperpolarization from −30.2 ± 4.3 to −76.3 ± 3.6 mV (n = 6, P < 0.001). In the same cells, UTP activated the outward current under voltage-clamp conditions at a holding potential of −40 mV (Fig. 2C, right).

Fig. 2.

Effects of UTP on the membrane currents and membrane potential in PDGFRα⁺ cells. A: cells were held at −40 mV. UTP (10 μM) activated outward currents in PDGFRα⁺ cells, and these responses were reproducible in response to multiple applications. B: expanded timescales at points designated as a and b in A showing current responses to ramp potentials before (a) and after (b) addition of UTP. C: UTP (10 μM) hyperpolarized PDGFRα⁺ cells under current-clamp mode [current (I) = 0] and activated outward currents in the same cells under voltage-clamp mode [V-C; holding potential (HP) = −40 mV].

UTP (10 μM) activated small inward currents in SMCs (0.9 ± 0.4 pA/pF, n = 6) at −60 mV with an internal K⁺-rich solution (Fig. 3, A and B) and after replacement of K⁺ with a Cs⁺-rich solution (1.1 ± 0.2 pA/pF, n = 8; Fig. 3, C and D) at −40 mV. The inward currents activated by UTP in SMCs reversed close to 0 mV (Fig. 3D), suggesting that UTP activates a nonselective cation current in SMCs.

Fig. 3.

Effects of UTP on membrane currents in smooth muscle cells (SMCs). A: UTP (10 μM) and ATP (100 μM) induced inward currents in SMCs dialyzed with a K⁺-rich solution at a HP of −60 mV. B: expanded timescales from control conditios (a) and in the presence of UTP (b) in A. C: UTP activated inward currents in SMCs dialyzed with Cs⁺-rich pipette solution (HP = −40 mV). D: expanded timescales from before (a) and after UTP (b) in C. Horizontal dotted lines denote 0 pA. Arrowheads denote the applications of ramp potentials (protocol shown in bottom traces in A and C).

Activation of SK channels by UTP in PDGFRα⁺ cells.

The outward current activated by UTP in PDGFRα⁺ cells displayed properties similar to SK currents (e.g., reversal potential close to E_K, voltage independence, and rectification at positive potentials; see Fig. 2B,b). Therefore, we tested the effects of SK channel blockers on the current activated by UTP. Apamin (300 nM), a SK channel blocker, abolished the current activated by UTP at a holding potential of −40 mV (n = 6, P < 0.001; Fig. 4A) and the voltage-independent current in response to ramp potentials (Fig. 4B,b). We also tested the effects of UCL1684 (1 μM), another SK channel blocker, on the outward current activated by UTP. UCL1684 inhibited the UTP-activated current in a manner similar to the effects of apamin (n = 5, P < 0.001 for UTP-activated current at −40 mV before and after UCL1684; Fig. 4, C and D). These data suggest that current activated by UTP in PDGFRα⁺ cells is due to activation of SK channels.

Fig. 4.

Effect of small-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (SK) channel blockers on the outward currents activated by UTP in PDGFRα⁺ cells. A and C: cells were held at −40 mV. UTP (10 μM) activated outward currents, and these responses were inhibited by apamin (0.3 μM; A) or UCL1684 (1 μM; C). B and D: expanded timescaless at points denoted by a and b in A and C showing the outward currents activated by UTP (B,a and D,a); these currents were blocked by apamin (B,b) or UCL1684 (D,b). Horizontal dotted lines in all A–D denote 0 pA. Arrowheads denote the application of ramp potentials (see protocols shown in bottom traces in B and D).

Activation of SK channels by UTP occurs through a G_q/11-PLC signaling pathway in PDGFRα⁺ cells.

We investigated whether UTP activated outward currents in PDGFRα⁺ cells via a G_q/11-PLC pathway by testing the effects of U73122, a PLC inhibitor. U73122 (1 μM) blocked the current activated by UTP at a holding potential of −40 mV (n = 5, P < 0.001; Fig. 5A) and voltage-independent currents in response to ramp depolarization (n = 5; Fig. 5B). For comparison, we also tested the effects of U73343 (1 μM), an inactive analog of U73122. U73343 had no effect on the current evoked by UTP (n = 4; Fig. 5, C and D). These data suggest that UTP activated SK channel currents through a G_q/11-PLC pathway in PDGFRα⁺ cells.

Fig. 5.

Effect of a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor on outward currents activated by UTP in PDGFRα⁺ cells. A: cells were held at −40 mV. UTP induced outward currents, and these responses were blocked by U73122 (1 μM). B: expanded timescales from points denoted by a–c in A showing current responses to ramp potentials under control conditions (a), after the addition of UTP (b), and after the addition of U73122 and UTP (c). C: cells were held at −40 mV. UTP (10 μM) activated outward currents before and after the addition of U73343 (1 μM), an inactive analog of U73122. D: expanded timescales from points denoted by a--c in C. The bottom traces in B and D depict the ramp depolarization protocols. Horizontal dotted lines in A–D denote 0 pA. Arrowheads denote the application of ramp potentials.

Activation of SK currents by UTP through P2Y receptors in PDGFRα⁺ cells.

P2ry1, P2ry2, and P2ry4 transcripts are enriched in PDGFRα⁺ cells from wild-type mice in relation to transcripts of unsorted cells obtained by enzymatic dispersion (19). We investigated the effect of the P2Y₁ antagonist MRS2500 to determine the role of P2Y₁ receptors in UTP responses. MRS2500 (1 μM) did not decrease outward currents activated by UTP in PDGFRα⁺ cells at a holding potential of −40 mV (n = 7, P > 0.05; Fig. 6A) or the current-voltage relationship evoked by ramp depolarization (Fig. 6B,b). We also tested the effects of UTP on PDGFRα⁺ cells from P2ry1^−/−/eGFP mice. UTP activated outward currents (2.5 ± 0.9 pA/pF, n = 6) at a holding potential of −40 mV in these cells (Fig. 6C), which was not significantly different from the responses of UTP from PDGFRα⁺ cells at the same holding potential in wild-type mice (n = 20, P > 0.05). The currents activated by UTP in cells of P2ry1^−/−/eGFP mice had the same voltage independence as currents activated in wild-type cells (Fig. 6D,b). Thus, the findings from PDGFRα⁺ cells from P2ry1^−/−/eGFP mice were consistent with pharmacological findings from wild-type mice and suggest that P2Y₁ receptors are not necessary for the effects of UTP on PDGFRα⁺ cells.

Fig. 6.

Effects of P2Y₁ antagonist and deletion on outward currents activated by UTP in PDGFRα⁺ cells. A: UTP (10 μM) activated outward currents in PDGFRα⁺ cells from wild-type mice before and after the addition of MRS2500 (1 μM; HP = −40 mV). B: expanded timescales showing responses to ramp potentials during only MRS2500 (a) and with MRS2500 and UTP (b) from the points denoted in A. C: UTP (10 μM) also activated outward currents at −40 mV in PDGFRα⁺ cells from P2ry₁^−/−/eGFP mice. D: current traces at expanded timescales during ramp potentials in control conditions (a) and after the addition of UTP (b) from points denoted in C. Horizontal dotted lines in A–D denote 0 pA. Arrowheads denote the applications of ramp potentials.

Although P2ry6 transcripts were not significantly enriched in PDGFRα⁺ cells (19), we tested a potential role for P2Y₆ receptors in mediating UTP responses in wild-type PDGFRα⁺ cells. A selective P2Y₆ antagonist, MRS2578, was tested on UTP responses in PDGFRα⁺ cells. MRS2578 (10 μM) had no effect on the outward currents activated by UTP (i.e., 4.1 ± 0.7 pA/pF, n = 6, P > 0.05; Fig. 7, A and B), and the P2Y₆ agonist MRS2693 (2 μM) caused only a tiny increase in outward current in PDGFRα⁺ cells (Fig. 7, C and D,b) that was insignificant compared with the response to UTP (n = 5; Fig. 7, C and D,c). We also tested the effect of the nonselective P2Y receptor blocker suramin (30 μM) on UTP-activated outward currents. Suramin completely abolished the UTP response (n = 5; Fig. 7, E and F).

Fig. 7.

Effects of P2Y6 agonist and antagonist and nonselective P2Y receptor inhibitor on PDGFRα⁺ cells. A: UTP induced outward currents in the presence of MRS2578 (a selective P2Y6 antagonist). B: expanded timescales showing responses to ramp potentials before (a; pretreatment with MRS2578) and after the addition of UTP (b) from points denoted in A. C: MRS2693 (a selective P2Y6 agonist) activated only small-amplitude outward currents at a HP of −40 mV in PDGFRα⁺ cells. D: expanded timescales of ramp depolarization from control conditions (a), with MRS2693 (b), and with UTP (c) in C. The current-voltage curves in D show that the minor response to MRS2693 was not a voltage-independent SK-like current, as activated by UTP. E: suramin (a nonselective P2Y antagonist) inhibited UTP-activated outward currents at a HP of −40 mV in PDGFRα⁺ cells. F: expanded timescales of ramp depolarization from control conditions (a), with UTP (b), and UTP in the presence of suramin (c) in E. Horizontal dotted lines in A–F denote 0 pA. Arrowheads denote applications of ramp potentials.

DISCUSSION

Recently, we reported that purified detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells display enriched expression of P2ry1, P2ry2, P2ry4, and P2ry14 relative to unsorted cells (19). In the present study, we confirmed the enrichment in P2ry2, P2ry4, and P2ry14 expression in detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells and showed no apparent compensation by up- or downregulation of expression in P2ry1^−/−/eGFP mice. Expression of P2ry2, P2ry4, and P2ry14 might indicate additional roles for PDGFRα⁺ cells in mediating purinergic responses or different receptors might be involved in activating SK currents in PDGFRα⁺ cells. UTP, an agonist with affinity for P2Y₂ and P2Y₄ receptors, activated large outward currents in detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells of wild-type and P2ry1^−/−/eGFP mice. The outward currents activated by UTP were completely inhibited by SK channel blockers and an inhibitor of PLC. These data suggest that activation of SK channels via P2Y₂ and/or P2Y₄ receptors, coupled through the G_q/11-PLC pathway, might be used to reduce detrusor muscle excitability, possibly during bladder filling.

P2Y receptors are G protein-coupled receptors that can be activated by adenosine and uridine nucleotides (e.g., ATP, ADP, UTP, UDP, etc.) (7). These nucleotides can be released from many types of cells in response to mechanical stress, O₂ deprivation, and infection via opening of pannexin 1 channels (4, 5, 8, 26). ATP and UTP activate P2Y₂ receptors equally, and P2Y₄ receptors are activated mainly by UTP (12). Both receptors are coupled through G_q/11 to activate PLC and increase intracellular Ca²⁺ via IP₃ receptors (9, 22). We have previously reported the expression and functional role of P2Y₁ receptors in PDGFRα⁺ cells using ATP as the activating nucleotide (19). In the present study, we investigated a potential role for P2Y₂ and P2Y₄ receptors using UTP as an agonist. Activation of P2Y₂ and P2Y₄ receptors has been shown to regulate many ion channels, including Ca²⁺-activated Cl⁻ channels, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, and G protein-coupled inward rectifying K⁺ channels (1, 17, 23, 25). P2Y₁₄ receptors are also expressed by detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells. P2Y₁₄ receptors are activated mainly by UDP and coupling to effectors via G_i/o (12). We have not investigated the specific role of these receptors in PDGFRα⁺ cells.

We reported functional expression of SK channels in detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells, but low expression of these channels in SMCs results in very low current densities in these cells (18). ATP activates SK currents in detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells via P2Y₁ receptors (19). A parallel pathway was detected in the present study, whereby UTP activated outward currents with properties of SK currents, and the outward current was blocked by SK channel-blocking drugs. We hypothesize that G_q/11-coupled receptors lead to an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ through synthesis of IP₃ and release of Ca²⁺ from IP₃ receptor-operated stores, as appears to be the case in PDGFRα⁺ cells in the gastrointestinal tract (3). Enhanced intracellular Ca²⁺ appears to be the signal that activates SK currents in PDGFRα⁺ cells, and this may be the common link in purine signaling via P2Y₁, P2Y₂, and P2Y₄ receptors and activation of outward currents in detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells.

UTP is not an activator of P2Y₁ receptors (1, 12), but we isolated detrusor PDGFRα⁺ cells from P2ry1^−/−/eGFP mice to confirm that SK channel activation is not dependent on P2Y₁ receptors and is likely to occur through binding to other receptors, possibly P2Y₂ and P2Y₄, which are expressed in PDGFRα⁺ cells. No specific or selective P2Y₂/P2Y₄ agents are currently available, so we could not determine which receptor (or both) is coupled to SK currents. We also excluded the possibility that P2Y₆ are involved in activating SK currents, since P2Y₆ receptors are also coupled through G_q/11 (12). P2Y₆ antagonist had no effect on the currents activated by UTP, and a selective P2Y₆ agonist activated only a fraction of the current activated by UTP. At present, we know little about the involvement of P2Y₁₄ receptors, which can also bind pyrimidine nucleotides. P2Y₁₄ receptors couple through G_i/o and inhibit adenylate cyclase (12). Decreasing cAMP and subsequently PKA activity might decrease mobilization of intracellular Ca²⁺ via release from stores (10, 21, 28). Thus, a contribution from P2Y₁₄ in the UTP effects on PDGFRα⁺ cells seems unlikely. We also found that responses to UTP responses were blocked by a PLC inhibitor. Taken together, the availability of purine receptors and pharmacological tests suggest that UTP activates SK currents via P2Y₂ and/or P2Y₄ receptors.

In intact bladder muscles, ATP causes transient depolarization and contraction that is followed by relaxation (19, 20). The depolarization response is likely mediated by P2X receptors expressed by SMCs (29). P2X receptors facilitate Ca²⁺ entry into SMCs; however, depolarization amplifies Ca²⁺ entry by activation of L-type Ca²⁺ channels (16). The transient nature of the depolarization and contraction and the subsequent development of relaxation are due, in part, to deactivation of P2X receptors and to activation of P2Y₁ receptors that are coupled to SK channels (19). We suggest that the hyperpolarizing effect of activating SK currents in PDGFRα⁺ cells, via electrical coupling to SMCs, exerts a net hyperpolarizing influence on SMCs, decreases activation of L-type Ca²⁺ channels, and reduces Ca²⁺ entry. It has been previously shown that UTP/UDP causes relaxation of rat detrusor muscle strips (2). It is possible that release of UTP and other purines during stretch of the bladder (4) activates outward current through binding of P2Y₁, P2Y₂, and P2Y₄. This break on excitability might be an important means of stabilizing detrusor excitability to avoid premature, nonvoiding contractions during filling. A previous study (15) supported this idea by showing that blockade of SK currents or knockout of SK channels results in the development of nonvoiding contractions during bladder filling in animal models. By discovering new receptors and pathways that can increase the open probability of SK channels in PDGFRα⁺ cells, it might be possible to develop new approaches for therapies for overactive bladder.

GRANTS

This work was supported by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Grant R01-DK-098388. COBRE Core B was used for the FACS (P30 GM110767).

DISCLOSURES

No conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, are declared by the author(s).

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Author contributions: H.L., K.M.S., and S.D.K. conception and design of research; H.L., B.H.K., E.Y., and N.E.G. performed experiments; H.L., E.Y., and S.D.K. analyzed data; H.L., K.M.S., and S.D.K. interpreted results of experiments; H.L., B.H.K., N.E.G., and S.D.K. prepared figures; H.L. and S.D.K. drafted manuscript; H.L., B.H.K., E.Y., N.E.G., K.M.S., and S.D.K. approved final version of manuscript; K.M.S. and S.D.K. edited and revised manuscript.