ARTICLE

A Memory for Extracellular Ca2+ by Speeding Recovery of P2X Receptors from Desensitization

S. P. Cook, K. D. Rodland and E. W. McCleskey
Journal of Neuroscience 15 November 1998, 18 (22) 9238-9244; https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18-22-09238.1998

Abstract

Nerve endings of nociceptors (pain-sensing neurons) express an unusual subtype of ATP-gated ion channel, the P2X3 receptor, that rapidly desensitizes (<100 msec) and slowly recovers (>20 min). Here we show that Ca2+, or certain other polyvalent cations, binds to an extracellular site on rat sensory neurons and can increase current through P2X3 channels more than 10-fold. Importantly, Ca2+ facilitates P2X3 current to precisely the same level whether a transient Ca2+ change occurred just before or several minutes before activating the channels with ATP. This memory for past changes in Ca2+ is integrative in that a 90 sec Ca2+ stimulus delivered just before an ATP application has the same effect as an earlier series of three, separated 30 sec Ca2+ stimuli. These diverse phenomena are explained by a single mechanism: Ca2+speeds recovery of P2X channels from desensitization. Recovery follows an exponential growth curve that depends on the duration, but not the timing, of changes in recovery rate. Modulation of desensitization underlies a well described short-term memory in bacteria, and it might be similarly used in the nervous system.

ATP-gated ion channels (P2X receptors) are distributed throughout somatic and nervous tissues (Bean, 1992; Abbracchio et al., 1994; Surprenant et al., 1995). In response to micromolar extracellular ATP, P2X receptors pass cations nonselectively. The resulting depolarization triggers processes such as secretion, smooth muscle contraction, or neuronal excitation. Sensory neurons of rat dorsal root ganglia contain mRNA for six of the seven cloned members of the P2X family (Collo et al., 1996), and one, P2X3, is found only in sensory neurons (Chen et al., 1995; Lewis et al., 1995). P2X3 protein is localized both to nociceptive peripheral nerve endings (Cook et al., 1997), where it may mediate ATP-driven nociception (Bleehen and Keele, 1977; Burnstock and Wood, 1996), and to central presynaptic terminals (Vulchanova et al., 1997), where it facilitates neurotransmitter release (Gu and MacDermott, 1997).

ATP-activated current in nociceptors has transient (desensitizing) and persistent components. Channels made only of P2X3 subunits account for transient current, and channels combining P2X3 and P2X2 subunits account for persistent current (Cook et al., 1997). Homomeric P2X3 channels desensitize to sustained applications of ATP within 100 msec, yet they recover from desensitization in >20 min (Chen et al., 1995;Lewis et al., 1995, Robertson et al., 1996; Cook and McCleskey, 1997). These radically different time scales are unusual for ion channels (see Table 1). They suggest that cellular functions controlled by P2X3 decrease after the channels are desensitized by recent exposure to ATP. However, P2X3 current is so large in sensory neurons [Cook et al. (1997), and see below] that activation of a small fraction of the total P2X3 channels should be sufficient to excite the cell. Therefore, P2X3 may influence sensory physiology even when most of the channels are desensitized.

Here we show that elevated extracellular Ca2+ (or several other polyvalent cations) speeds the rate at which P2X3 current recovers from desensitization. This explains a previously noted ability of Ca2+ to increase by many-fold the transient ATP-gated current of sensory neurons (Cook and McCleskey, 1997). This modulation has two surprising properties. First, extracellular, not intracellular, Ca2+ causes it. Second, a period in elevated Ca2+ increases P2X current to the same level regardless of when the period occurs in the interval between two ATP applications. Thus, a previous elevation of extracellular Ca2+ appears to lock P2X3 channels into a more active state that does not diminish over time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tissue culture and transfections. Dissociated sensory neurons were plated on polylysine/laminin-coated glass or plastic and maintained for ∼3 hr at 37°C in 5% CO2 in F12 media plus 50 ng/ml nerve growth factor (NGF). Media was then changed to L15 media plus 50 ng/ml NGF at 23°C in air until recording. Electrophysiological recordings occurred 24–48 hr after dissociation. Labeling, dissociation, and culturing of nociceptors and stretch receptors precisely followed Eckert et al. (1997). Dissociation of dorsal root ganglion neurons followed the protocol for nociceptors except that centrifugation through Percoll was not used.

Cell lines. Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells (ATCC) were grown in a 1:1 ratio of F12 and DMEM (F12/DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Atlanta Biologicals) at 37°C in 5% CO2/95% air. New thaws were started every 6 weeks. Stable HEK lines containing the human P2X3 receptor (HEK-p271; generously provided by A. Surprenant, Glaxo Wellcome, Geneva, Switzerland) were maintained in 300 μg/ml G418. HEK293 cells were subjected to transient transfection by electroporation as described by Bai et al. (1996). Cells were co-transfected with expression vectors for the rat P2X3 receptor [P2X3-p481 (Glaxo Wellcome) in the expression vector pCDNA3 (Invitrogen, San Diego, CA)] and for green fluorescent protein (pEGFP, Invitrogen) with or without the Ca2+-sensing receptor. After electroporation, cells were allowed to recover in F12/DMEM for 24 hr and then cultured in serum-free F12/DMEM for 18 hr before electrical recordings. Electrical recordings were taken only from cells expressing intermediate levels of green fluorescent protein, as determined by fluorescence microscopy.

Electrical recording. Whole-cell currents were recorded with a patch-clamp amplifier. Unless indicated otherwise, holding and test potentials were −80 mV. To obtain a steady baseline of current despite the slow recovery from desensitization of P2X3 channels, a saturating concentration of ATP (30 μm) was always applied on a rigorous schedule (for example, at every 120 sec) so that the same fraction of channels was recovered from desensitization at each ATP application. Ca2+ facilitations of transient currents in nociceptors (see Fig. 1) and dorsal root ganglia neurons (see Figs. 2-6) were indistinguishable. Because the dorsal root ganglia neurons are more easily prepared, we used them for the bulk of the data gathered.

Normal internal solution consisted of (in mm): KCl 55, K2SO4 60, MgCl2 7, EGTA 10, HEPES 10, pH 7.4 with KOH. BAPTA internal solution was (in mm): BAPTA (tetra-potassium salt) 40, HEPES 40, MgCl2 7, K2SO4 10, pH 7.4 with KOH. Control extracellular solutions consisted of (in mm): NaCl 135, KCl 5, CaCl2 1, MgCl2 2, glucose 10, HEPES 10, pH 7.4 with NaOH. Divalent and trivalent cations were added to this solution as Cl− salts. Control and test solutions perfused the vicinity of the cell through 1 or 10 μl pipettes with flow controlled by computer-operated solenoid valves. Solution exchange typically took 20 msec. Unless stated otherwise (e.g., see Fig. 2,top trace), ATP (30 μm) was applied in control solution (1 mm Ca2+).

Analysis. The equation It =Imax[1 − exp(−t/τ)]2 was fit to the recovery data in Figure 4C using the program NFIT (University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX), a least squares algorithm.Imax was set to 1.96 for all fits after finding that it was the best value for the Gd3+ curve. After determining recovery time constants in the 1 and 10 mmCa2+ solutions, the curves (see Figs.4A,B, 5B, 7) that described the effect of changes in Ca2+ concentration were calculated from:I(t) = Imax[1 − exp(−t1/τ1)exp(−t2/τ2)]2, where t = t1 +t2, t1 is the time spent at the first time constant, τ1, andt2 is the time spent at the second time constant, τ2.

RESULTS

Extracellular Ca2+ increases transient P2X current

Three distinct types of P2X current were previously noted in retrogradely labeled tooth-pulp nociceptors and muscle stretch receptors (Cook et al., 1997). Increased extracellular Ca2+ only enhanced transient nociceptor P2X current that flows through homomeric P2X3 channels (Fig.1). Persistent current, either from nociceptors or from stretch receptors, was unaffected. The enhanced current had the same kinetics as control (Fig.2, bottom right; see also Fig.6 legend) and appeared only in neurons with existing transient current, suggesting that the additional current does not result from promotion of a new type of P2X current.

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.

Elevated extracellular Ca2+increases transient nociceptor current. A saturating concentration of ATP (30 μm) was applied for 300 msec at 2 min intervals in 1 mm extracellular Ca2+ solution. During the 2 min before ATP, extracellular Ca2+ was increased to 10 mm where indicated. Ca2+returned to 1 mm 10 sec before test application of ATP. Means were (in nanoampere) −1.1 ± 0.3, −2.0 ± 0.5, and −0.32 ± 0.09 for transient nociceptor currents (n = 9), persistent nociceptors currents (n = 11), and stretch receptor currents (n = 9), respectively (1 mmCa2+). Percentage increase in current after 10 mm Ca2+ treatment was 260 ± 20, 4 ± 4, and 4 ± 4 for the three cell types.

Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.

Prolonged pretreatment with elevated Ca2+ increases transient P2X current. The sequences of four ATP applications (arrows, 30 μm, 300 msec) occurred 2 min after P2X channels were desensitized by ATP. These partially recovered currents are ∼6% of the maximal possible current (see Fig. 4C). Rightmost tracesshow currents elicited by the indicated ATP applications (asterisks) at an expanded time scale. In the top traces, extracellular Ca2+ was raised (filled bars) to 10 mm starting 10 sec before the third ATP and returned to 1 mm 10 sec after. Current did not increase. In bottom traces, Ca2+ was 10 mm for the duration of the interval between the ATP applications, but it was 1 mm when ATP was applied. Current increased 2.5-fold.

Ca2+ might act at three different locations to cause the larger transient current in Figure 1: (1) it might be highly permeant through the pore of the channel; (2) it might enter the cell and bind to the channel or to a modulating molecule in the cytoplasm; or (3) it might bind to an extracellular site. Figure 2 distinguishes between these possibilities and demonstrates the general protocol used throughout the rest of the paper.

To obtain a consistent baseline of current despite the extremely slow rate of recovery from desensitization, we applied ATP on a rigorous schedule, precisely every 2 min in Figure 2. ATP (30 μm) was applied for 300 msec, sufficient to fully desensitize transient P2X current. We estimate (see below) that ∼6% of the current recovers in the 2 min interval between ATP applications. When Ca2+ was elevated to 10 mm for 10 sec before and during the third ATP application at the top of Figure 2, there was no significant effect (traces are shown at an expanded time scale on the right). This demonstrates that the Ca2+ facilitation is caused neither by high Ca2+ permeability nor by Ca2+entry through the P2X channel. In the bottom set of records, Ca2+ was elevated for most of the 2 min of the second interval, but then was dropped back to 1 mm before ATP was applied. Current increased 2.5-fold, demonstrating that it is the preincubation in elevated Ca2+ that causes facilitation. The last application of ATP produced an identical current to that produced before the Ca2+ increase, demonstrating that ATP reverses the facilitation. Such Ca2+-induced facilitation could be repeated many times on a cell without attenuation (data not shown).

There is no evidence of Ca2+-induced current during the 2 min incubation interval in Figure 2. Moreover, changes in holding potential (from −120 to −40 mV) that should alter Ca2+ entry during the interval neither caused facilitation nor altered Ca2+-induced facilitation (data not shown). Chelation of intracellular Ca2+ by various compounds (10 mm EGTA, 40 mm BAPTA, 5 mm ATP) did not block facilitation (Fig. 2 shows 10 mm EGTA; BAPTA and ATP are not shown). P2X current did not change when we intentionally caused Ca2+ entry by opening voltage-gated Ca2+ channels just before ATP application (depolarizations to 0 mV for 0.1–20 sec; data not shown). Because increasing intracellular Ca2+, buffering intracellular Ca2+, or changing the transmembrane Ca2+ driving force caused no effect, we conclude that the Ca2+ binding site lies on the outside face of the cell.

Prolonged facilitation and its mechanism

Figure 2 shows that prolonged (2 min) but not brief (10 sec) elevation of Ca2+ facilitated P2X current. Figure3 further describes the time dependence of facilitation and shows that it does not decay as expected. Two minutes separated each ATP application (arrows) in Figure3A, and Ca2+ changed between 1 and 10 mm when indicated. Current increased twofold if Ca2+ increased for 1 min and 3.6-fold if Ca2+ increased for 2 min. Thus, facilitation increases with increasing time in elevated Ca2+. However, facilitation did not diminish after Ca2+was lowered. Current increased to the same level whether a 1 min Ca2+ elevation had just completed (“late” application) or had completed 1 min earlier (“early” application). All cells showed such behavior (Fig. 3B). This contrasts with the expectation that modulation should diminish after the modulating compound is removed.

Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.

Transient P2X receptors remember previous Ca2+ exposure. A, ATP-evoked currents (right) followed a previous ATP application (arrows) by 2 min. The time scale changes at break in current baseline. Extracellular Ca2+ was increased to 10 mm for length of time indicated (filled bars) during the 2 min between ATP applications (30 μm ATP, 1 mm Ca2+). Relative magnitudes of current are indicated inparentheses. B, The summary of data for six such experiments shows that Ca2+ modulation increased with increased duration of Ca2+ elevation. However, a 1 min increase has the same effect whether it is appliedearly or late in the interval between ATP applications. This memory for elevated Ca2+ persists for at least 4 min (see Fig. 4B).

To determine why facilitation fails to decay, we replotted the early and late data in Figure 3B as a pair of points (boxes) on the graph in Figure4A. The horizontal axis gives the time since the last application of ATP, 2 min; the various curves are explained below. Figure 4B shows results from analogous experiments in which 6 min separated ATP applications. Ca2+ was elevated for 2 min either at the beginning or the end of the 6 min interval. Regardless of the time elapsed since Ca2+ was elevated, the current increased to the same level (50% above that seen with 1 mmCa2+ throughout the 6 min interval;asterisk). Because facilitation was identical although 4 min separated the two Ca2+ elevations, the “memory” for Ca2+ persisted for those 4 min, as it had for the 1 min in Figure 4A.

Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.

Increased rate of recovery from desensitization creates the Ca2+ memory. Facilitation is undiminished for 1 min (A) or 4 min (B) after removal of Ca2+. Data points (boxes ± SEM) were obtained using a protocol similar to that of the middle traces in Figure3A. ATP was applied at either 2 min (A) or 6 min (B) intervals. Ca2+ was increased from 1 to 10 mm at either the beginning of the interval (▪) or the end (■) for either 1 min (A) or 2 min (B). Early and late Ca2+ treatments gave identical currents in each case. Solid lines are the recovery curves from Figure 4C (see below) for 1 mmCa2+ (τ = 7.1 min) or 10 mmCa2+ (τ = 3.5 min). Dashed curvesare the theoretical predictions (see Materials and Methods for calculation), assuming that the recovery rate changes immediately after changes in Ca2+ concentration (heavy arrows). This mechanism predicts the perfect persistence of facilitation between the Ca2+ applications. Data from each cell were normalized to the value obtained with 1 mm Ca2+ (asterisks); vertical scales are identical to that in Figure 1C. C, Ca2+ and Gd3+ speed recovery from desensitization. ATP (30 μm) was applied at the indicated times after current was fully desensitized at time 0. During the interval between ATP applications, extracellular solution contained either 1 mm Ca2+ (○,n = 8), 10 mm Ca2+(•, n = 8), or 10 μmGd3+ and 1 mm Ca2+(▪, n = 6). In all cases, the solution was changed to 1 mm Ca2+ 10 sec before the ATP application. Peak currents from each cell were normalized relative to that recorded with a 4 min interval in 10 mmCa2+ (asterisk). Error is expressed as SEM. The non-normalized currents ranged from −1.5 to −9.8 nA; mean = −4.6 ± 0.6 nA (4 min interval and 10 mm extracellular Ca2+). Curves representa fit to the equation It =Imax × [1 − exp(−t/τ)]2. Recovery time constant τ = 7.1, 3.5, and 1.7 min for 1 mm Ca2+, 10 mm Ca2+, and 10 μmGd3+, respectively. Dashed linerepresents predicted 100% recovery (Imax = 1.96 corresponding to a mean maximum current = −9.0 nA).

Figure 4C shows that Ca2+ speeds the recovery of P2X channels from desensitization, the only effect on kinetics that we have found. At time 0 in the graph, an ATP application fully desensitized the channels. Recovery from desensitization was examined with subsequent applications at the times indicated on the axis. Recovery was approximately twofold faster in 10 mmCa2+ than in 1 mm. Another multivalent cation, Gd3+, sped recovery fourfold at a 1000-fold lower concentration than Ca2+. The sigmoidal data in Figure 4C is fit with the equation It= Imax × [1 − exp(−t/τ)]2 (solid curves).

The solid curves in Figures 4, A andB, are the first 2 and 6 min, respectively, of the recovery equations from Figure 4C for 1 mm (τ = 7.1 min) and 10 mm Ca2+ (τ = 3.5 min). Thedashed curves show what should happen if recovery time constants toggle between 7.1 and 3.5 min when Ca2+concentration changes between 1 and 10 mm. Our equation assumes that the recovery time constant changes immediately after change of extracellular Ca2+. These curves predict the equivalence of the data points and closely approximate their absolute magnitude. This indicates that the Ca2+dependence of recovery from desensitization fully explains the memory for Ca2+. As described further in Discussion, the equivalence of the data points relies on an unintuitive property of exponential growth: regardless of when a transient change in growth rate occurs, the end effect is always the same.

The Ca2+ memory is integrative

The above mechanism predicts that the memory for Ca2+ should be integrative. If several Ca2+ elevations are applied in succession, their effect should persist and should be identical to that of a single stimulus having the same total time in elevated Ca2+. Figure 5 tests this prediction by comparing three 30 sec Ca2+elevations, each separated by 30 sec, with a single 90 sec elevation. Because the 90 sec elevation occurs just before an ATP application whereas the last of the 30 sec elevations occurs well before, the experiment also tests for the persistence of integration. Thedashed lines on the traces in Figure 5A indicate the amplitudes that the model predicted for Ca2+facilitation; they closely approximate the observed facilitated currents, which are almost identical to each other. Figure5B shows the average results from five experiments (boxes) along with calculated time courses (dashed curves) used to predict the amplitudes of facilitation.

Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.

P2X channels integrate and retain facilitations caused by multiple Ca2+ stimuli. A, The first ATP (30 μm) application (smaller expanded current, right) followed 4 min in 1 mmCa2+; the second application (larger current) followed the indicated Ca2+ elevations.Dashed lines show the predicted value of facilitation (see Materials and Methods for description of the calculation). Facilitation was about equal to the predicted values and was identical whether Ca2+ was elevated for one 90 sec period just before evoking current (bottom protocol) or three 30 sec periods completed 1.5 min before evoking current (top protocol). B, Average facilitation (n = 5) relative to 1 mmCa2+ (asterisk, mean current = 4.8 ± 0.9 nA) after the one 90 sec (■, mean increase = 1.61 ± 0.10) or three 30 sec Ca2+ elevations (▪, mean increase = 1.62 ± 0.07). Solid curves show 4 min of the recovery curves for 1 and 10 mm Ca2+ from Figure 4C, and dashed curves show the calculated recovery in response to the indicated changes in Ca2+concentration.

Agonists of the Ca2+ binding site

Some multivalent cations substitute for Ca2+and others do not. At 1000-fold lower concentration, Gd3+ sped recovery faster than 10 mmCa2+ (Fig. 4C). The actions of Gd3+ and Ca2+ were dose-dependent and increased current ∼13-fold at 30 μm and 100 mm, respectively (Fig.6A). Ba2+ and spermine were as potent as Ca2+, whereas Mg2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ were relatively ineffective (Fig.6B). The variety of effective agonists raises the possibility that the putative physiological ligand is not Ca2+ or another metal. More modest changes in Ca2+ also caused significant increases in current. When Ca2+ was increased from 1 to 3 mm, P2X current increased in 5 of 10 cells (average increase, 4.4-fold; range, 1.7–6.7-fold). We found no changes in recovery when Ca2+ was dropped below 1 mm.

Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.

Gd3+ potently increases transient nociceptor current. A, ATP (30 μm) was applied at 1 min intervals in 1 mmCa2+; the indicated ion was present (in addition to 1 mm Ca2+) during the entire 1 min interval, but not during the ATP application. Gd3+(▪) increased P2X current at almost 10,000-fold lower concentration than Ca2+ (■). Mg2+ (•) was ineffective. Data are expressed as means of P2X current ± SEM. For Gd3+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, n = 8, 10, and 5, respectively. Although elevation of Ca2+ from 3 to 100 mm increased current 9 ± 2-fold (Fig.6A), desensitization rate did not decrease (τdecay = 45 ± 9 msec at 3 mmCa2+; τdecay = 29 ± 4 msec at 100 mm Ca2+). B, Various multivalent cations increased P2X current. At 10 mm, barium (Ba) and spermine (Spm) were as effective as Ca2+. In contrast, nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) were ineffective. Data are expressed as means of peak currents, normalized to current with 1 min pretreatment in 10 mmCa2+, ± SEM for n = 5–11 neurons.

This unusual agonist profile resembles that of the Ca2+-sensing receptor (CaSR), a G-protein-coupled receptor that detects plasma Ca2+ concentration and alters homeostatic responses accordingly (Brown et al., 1993; Ray et al., 1997). We considered whether the CaSR might mediate facilitation of P2X channels and ruled out this hypothesis with the following experiments. Using an antibody to the CaSR, we detected a protein of appropriate Mr in Western blots from sensory ganglia preparations and saw immunocytochemical staining in cultured sensory neurons [data not shown; also see Bukoski et al. (1997)]. However, intracellular perfusion of 300 μm GTPγS did not modify facilitation; it should if a G-protein is involved. Moreover, transiently transfected rat P2X3 receptors exhibited Ca2+ and Gd3+ facilitation, although the parent cell line (HEK293 cells) exhibited no immunostaining for the CaSR. Co-transfection of the CaSR with P2X3 receptors made no discernible difference. Another molecule proposed to sense extracellular Ca2+, the metabotropic glutamate receptor (Kubo et al., 1998), was also ruled out as a mediator because of its absence in HEK293 cells and the failure of receptor agonists to facilitate P2X current in sensory neurons. Thus, we found no molecule that conferred Ca2+ sensitivity on P2X channels. Interestingly, Ca2+ and Gd3+ only weakly facilitated human P2X3 channels in HEK293 cells (data not shown). These results suggest that the Ca2+ binding site is on the channel and that Ca2+ facilitates rat more effectively than human P2X3 receptors.

DISCUSSION

The simplest interpretation of our results is that Ca2+ binds directly to an extracellular site on P2X3 receptors of rats, and this Ca2+-bound receptor recovers more quickly from desensitization. Although we did not see an effect of Ca2+ on persistent P2X current in sensory neurons, Ca2+ may speed recovery of other desensitizing P2X receptors (e.g., P2X1). By modulating recovery, a transient change in extracellular Ca2+ facilitates P2X3 current to precisely the same degree, no matter when the change occurs. This endows the channel with a memory for transient changes in extracellular Ca2+. Facilitation should persist no longer than the time it takes to complete recovery from desensitization, approximately 20 min. Because many channels, receptors, and enzymes involved in neural signaling undergo desensitization, modulation of recovery is worth considering as a mechanism for certain short-term memories. Below we discuss general properties of this mechanism and speculate about its possible role in P2X-mediated sensation.

Memory through desensitization

The ability of P2X3 receptors to encode a transient change in Ca2+ as a perfectly persisting change in activity relies on a basic property of exponential growth: no matter when it occurs, a transient change in growth rate has precisely the same outcome on a later value of the exponential. As an example, consider 5% interest on $1000 compounded yearly for 20 years. The profit will be increased by $258.71 if the interest increases to 10% for the final 2 years. If the interest increases to 10% for the initial 2 years, the extra profit is only $107.50 at first. However, 5% interest accrues on this until the final extra profit is precisely the same: $258.71 at the end of the 20 year interval. Therefore, the value of the final profit provides a record of an interest rate change regardless of when the change occurs. [In general, when interest compounds either at rateb or at rate c, the value after tintervals is F(t) = F0(1 +b)t1(1 + c)t2, whereF0 is the starting value, t =t1 + t2,t1 is the number of intervals at rateb, and t2 is the number of intervals at rate c. The final value depends on the number of intervals spent at each rate, but not on the timing of the intervals.] The same holds true for any continuously changing exponential function. For example, if exponential decay occurs with a time constant τ1 for a time t1 and with a time constant τ2 for a time t2, the value is F(t1 +t2) = exp(−t1/τ1)exp(−t2/τ2), regardless of whether the interval at τ1 occurs first or second.

During recovery from desensitization, the number of activatable P2X channels increases along an exponential curve that is subject to the above principle. The calculation in Figure7 shows 20 min of the recovery of P2X receptors exposed to Ca2+ concentrations (1 and 10 mm) that altered recovery rate twofold. The middle curves show the recovery if channels were exposed to 10 mmCa2+ for 2 min at various starting times. All of these curves are identical after their respective Ca2+ elevations have occurred. This creates a memory of a previous Ca2+ elevation because one that occurred many minutes before has the same effect on the number of available channels as one that just occurred.

Fig. 7.
Fig. 7.

Calculated effects of 2 min Ca2+ increases occurring at various times during recovery from desensitization. Twenty minutes of the calculated recovery from desensitization in 1 mmCa2+ (bottom solid curve, τ = 7.1 min), 10 mm Ca2+ (top solid curve, τ = 3.5 min), or 18 min in 1 Ca2+and 2 min in 10 Ca2+ (middle dashed curves). The six dashed curves correspond to six different starting times for the 2 min interval in 10 Ca2+. All six curves superimpose after completion of the Ca2+ changes. Curves are solutions ofFrac(t) = [1 − exp(−t1/7.1)exp(−t2/3.5)]2, where Frac is the fraction of channels available to be activated, t = t1 +t2, t1 andt2 are the number of minutes spent in 1 and 10 mm Ca2+, respectively. The same equation fit the 2, 6, and 4 min of data in Figures4A,B and 5B.

Receptor-based desensitization governs a well described short-term memory in bacteria (Morimoto and Koshland, 1991). To swim up a gradient of amino acid nutrients, bacteria sample the medium, compare the present to a past sample, and adjust swimming behavior accordingly. Increasing or decreasing gradients shift the balance between a fast, positive regulatory response (receptor activation by attractant) and a slower, negative regulatory response (receptor desensitization). The memory of past samples occurs because of the comparatively slow time course of a covalent modification that controls the level of receptor desensitization.

Molecular mechanisms proposed for short-term memory in neurobiology include ion channel modulation (Shuster et al., 1985), ion channel desensitization (Heckmann and Dudel, 1997), and presynaptic Ca2+ dynamics (Tank et al., 1995). Modulation of recovery from desensitization provides yet another possible mechanism. Any memory based on it would have three properties that are evident in the Ca2+ facilitation of P2X receptors. First, although the Ca2+ facilitation of P2X receptors can last many minutes in the absence of extracellular ATP, it can vanish in <1 sec when ATP is applied. The ATP desensitizes the channels and thereby erases the Ca2+ facilitation. Second, Ca2+ facilitation can last no longer than the time to complete the recovery from desensitization. This can range from tens of milliseconds in some channels to the 20 min for P2X3 receptors, a range that encompasses the durations (seconds to minutes) of behavioral short-term memory. Third, facilitations caused by a series of Ca2+ stimuli sum to the same value as that of a single stimulus of the same total duration. Such additivity is like short-term memory, which is strengthened by rehearsal, and unlike long-term potentiation, which is evoked by a single tetanus that renders subsequent tetani ineffective.

Does Ca2+ concentration change outside sensory neurons?

Ca2+ modulation of recovery from desensitization can be relevant only if extracellular Ca2+ changes in physiological conditions. Because of the minute dimensions of interstitial spaces, the evidence regarding such changes is equivocal. However, a Ca2+precipitation method provided a clear demonstration of a standing gradient of extracellular Ca2+ in skin (Menon et al., 1985). The inner epidermis has lower Ca2+ than the outer epidermis, and this gradient plays a crucial role in keratinocyte development (Hennings et al., 1980; Bikle et al., 1996). Injury to skin might disrupt these outer epidermal Ca2+ reservoirs as well as release ATP from damaged cells. Spread of high Ca2+ to inner layers would increase the ATP sensitivity of sensory nerve endings.

Ca2+ might also change in the synaptic cleft. Central terminals of sensory neurons express P2X3 receptors (Vulchanova et al., 1997), and activation of presynaptic P2X receptors enhances glutamate release (Gu and MacDermott, 1997). Changes in cleft Ca2+ concentration with synaptic activity have been proposed (Benninger et al., 1980; Pumain et al., 1987; Stabel et al., 1990). P2X receptors are the third class of synaptic receptors (metabotropic glutamate receptors and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are the other two) that are modulated by extracellular Ca2+ (Mulle et al., 1992; Kubo et al., 1998). These findings suggest a role for extracellular Ca2+ in synaptic function.

Chronic desensitization

Ca2+ modulation of recovery from desensitization impacts only desensitized P2X receptors. Two properties suggest the possibility of chronic desensitization. First, the ratio of rapid desensitization and slow recovery rates for P2X3 current is at least 100-fold greater than that reported for other ligand-gated channels (Table 1). Release of ATP more frequently than once every 20 min would cause chronic desensitization of P2X3. Second, the channels are grossly overexpressed. The amplitude of nondesensitized transient P2X current (mean maximum current = −9 nA, n = 14) (legend to Fig. 4C) compares with that through voltage-gated Na+ channels in the same cells. The Na+ current drives 100 mV depolarizations, yet sensory potentials need to be only 10–20 mV. Overexpression would allow P2X3 channels to generate sufficient current for sensory potentials even if the majority of channels were desensitized. If chronic desensitization limits P2X3 current in sensory neurons, promotion of recovery rate (by extracellular Ca2+ or other multivalent cations) would provide a powerful mechanism for controlling ATP sensitivity of sensory nerve endings and presynaptic terminals.

View this table:
Table 1.

Desensitization and recovery of ligand-gated ion channels

Footnotes

  • This work was supported by a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) postdoctoral fellowship to S.P.C., a NIDA grant to E.W.M., and a National Cancer Institute grant to K.D.R. Annmarie Surprenant kindly provided P2X receptor clones and cell lines stably transfected with human P2X3 receptors. Affinity BioReagents (Golden, CO) donated Ca2+-sensing receptor antibody. Craig Jahr, Matt Jones, and Tom Soderling critically read an early version of this manuscript. Seth Silbert provided helpful discussion of the math. Vu Dang and Fred Lee prepared cells and transfections.

    Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. S. Cook, Vollum Institute L-474, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201.

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A Memory for Extracellular Ca2+ by Speeding Recovery of P2X Receptors from Desensitization
S. P. Cook, K. D. Rodland, E. W. McCleskey
Journal of Neuroscience 15 November 1998, 18 (22) 9238-9244; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18-22-09238.1998
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