Expression of P2 receptors in human B cells and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines

The mRNA transcripts of most P2 receptors were detected in primary B cells; the expression of P2X3 and P2X7 receptors was the lowest of all the P2 receptors. By contrast, LCLs expressed several dominant P2 receptors – P2X4, P2X5, and P2Y11 – in amounts similar to those seen in B cells infected with EBV for 2 weeks. The amount of most P2 subtypes in LCLs or EBV-infected B cells was lower than in normal B cells. However, the amount of P2X7 receptor expressed in LCLs was higher. Protein expression was studied using Western blotting to confirm the mRNA findings for P2X1, P2X4, P2X7, P2Y1, and P2Y11 receptors. ATP increased the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) by enhancing the Ca2+ influx in both B cells and LCLs in a dose-dependent manner.These findings describe P2 receptor expression profiles and the effects of purinergic stimuli on B cells and suggest some plasticity in the expression of the P2 receptor phenotype. This may help explain the nature and effect of P2 receptors on B cells and their role in altering the characteristics of LCLs.B cells synthesize and secrete large quantities of soluble immunoglobulin antibodies and thus, play a key role in humoral immunity. An infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) easily transforms resting primary B cells in vitro from human peripheral blood cells into B-blast-like proliferating lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) [1]. This infection is used routinely in the laboratory to generate LCLs from B cells [2]. LCLs are widely used in various types of studies, including those involving the disciplines of immunology, cellular biology, and genetics. This transformation results in changes in certain cellular properties, including gene expression [3], cell surface phenotyping, and cytokine production [4].Extracellular nucleotides – e.g., adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), adenosine 5'-diphosphate, uracil 5'-triphosphate, and uracil 5'-diphosphate – have various physiological effects in many cells, such as exocrine and en