ATP and repetitive electric stimulation increases leukemia inhibitory factor expression in astrocytes: A potential role for astrocytes in the action mechanism of electroconvulsive therapy

Aim: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is effective for psychiatric disorders. However, its action mechanism remains unclear. We previously reported that transcription factor 7 (TCF7) was increased in patients successfully treated with ECT. TCF7 regulates Wnt pathway, which regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is involved in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Astrocytes play a role in adult hippocampal neurogenesis via neurogenic factors. Of astrocyte-derived neurogenic factors, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) activate Wnt pathway. In addition, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), released from excited neurons, activates astrocytes. Therefore, we hypothesized that ECT might increase LIF and/or FGF2 in astrocytes. To test this, we investigated the effects of ATP and electric stimulation (ES) on LIF and FGF2 expressions in astrocytes.

Methods: Astrocytes were derived from neonatal mouse forebrain and administered ATP and ES. The mRNA expression was estimated with quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Protein concentration was measured with ELISA.

Results: ATP increased LIF, but not FGF2, expression. Multiple ES, but not single, increased LIF expression. Knockdown of P2X2 receptor (P2X2R) attenuated ATP-induced increase of LIF mRNA expression. In contrast, P2X3 and P2X4 receptors intensified it.

Conclusion: P2X2R may mediate ATP-induced LIF expression in astrocytes and multiple ES directly increases LIF expression in astrocytes. Therefore, both ATP/P2X2R and multiple ES-induced increases of LIF expression in astrocytes might mediate the efficacy of ECT on psychiatric disorders. Elucidating detailed mechanisms of ATP/P2X2R and multiple ES-induced LIF expression is expected to result in the identification of new therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders.