Apical and basolateral ATP stimulates tracheal epithelial chloride secretion via multiple purinergic receptors

Stimulation of Cl- secretion across the airway epithelium by ATP or UTP as agonists has therapeutic implications for cystic fibrosis. Our results demonstrate that ATP stimulates Cl- secretion in rat tracheal epithelial cell monolayers in primary culture from the apical or basolateral side of the monolayer. Multiple types of ATP-sensitive Cl- conductances in intact monolayers were elucidated through inhibition by Cl- channel-blocking drugs. Multiple Cl- conductances stimu lated by ATP and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) (tested for comparison) were also deciphered more specifically by nystatin permeabilization of the basolateral membrane, subsequent imposition of symmetrical Cl-, I-, or Br- solutions to test halide permselectivity, inhibition by Cl- channel-blocking drugs, and construction of current-voltage plots to study time and voltage dependence of the currents. Apical ATP stimulates Cl- secretion through P-2U (or P-2Y2) purinergic receptors via both intracellular Ca2+ (Ca-i(2i))-dependent and Ca-i(2+)-independent signaling pathways by opening outwardly rectifying Cl- channels (ORCCs), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl- channels, and Ca-i(2+)-dependent Cl- channels. Basolateral ATP stimulates Cl- secretion via a combination of receptor subtypes (P-2T and P-2U) or a novel type of receptor (P-2Y3), independent of Ca-i(2+) or cAMP signaling by opening only CFTR channels. cAMP also stimulated multiple types of Cl- conductances, consistent with simultaneous activation of CFTR and ORCCs. Together, these results suggest that ATP as an agonist stimulates Cl- secretion via multiple purinergic receptors and multiple signal transduction pathways activated in different membrane domains of tracheal epithelia.