Dans le cerveau adulte, la signalisation liée à l’adénosine facilite ou inhibe la libération vésiculaire de neurotransmetteurs suite à l’activation des récepteurs de l’adénosine de type 2A ou 1 (A2AR ou A1R), respectivement. Cependant, son rôle dans le développement est mal connu. Au cours de ma thèse, j’ai étudié le rôle de la signalisation adénosine dans la synaptogenèse GABAergiques de l’hippocampe. Nous avons mis en évidence (i) une sécrétion activité-dépendante accrue d’adénosine et d’ATP pendant la période de synaptogenèse, (ii) un pic d’expression de l’enzyme limitant la formation de l’adénosine à partir de l’ATP extracellulaire, l’ecto-5’-nucleotidase, aux synapses pendant cette période critique, et (iii) un pic d’expression péri/post- synaptique du A2AR concomitant de la période de synaptogenèse. Cette expression développementale des molécules clés de la signalisation adénosine dépendante du A2AR corrélait avec un rôle de ce récepteur dans la stabilisation des synapses GABAergiques naissantes, une régulation restreinte à la période de synaptogenèse. De plus, la suppression de A2AR par une approche shRNA dans des neurones isolés conduisait à une perte de synapses GABAergiques équivalente à celle observée après un blocage pharmacologique de l’activité du A2AR, signifiant que la stabilisation synaptique médiée par le A2AR est un processus « cellule autonome » indépendant de l’activité du réseau neuronal et qu’elle requiert l’activation du A2AR dans la cellule post-synaptique.L’ATP et l’adénosine sont secrétés par la glie et les neurones ; cependant, nous avons montré in vitro que la libération neuronale activité-dépendante suffit à stabiliser les synapses GABAergiques naissantes. En utilisant la vidéomicroscopie sur cellules vivantes, nous avons montré que la signalisation adénosine stabilise les synapses actives. Puis, nous avons caractérisé le mécanisme moléculaire sous-jacent. Nous rapportons la contribution de la cascade adénylate cyclase/adénosine monophosphate cyclique/protéine kinase A et nous avons identifié une ciblé clé, la géphrine, la molécule d’ancrage postsynaptique des récepteurs GABAA. Enfin, nous avons mis en évidence que la stabilisation de l’élément présynaptique requiert probablement le complexe trans-synaptique Slitrk3-PTPd.Puisque le GABA exerce une fonction similaire au cours du développement et que le GABA et l’adénosine sont co-libérés à certaines synapses, j’ai étudié l’interaction entre ces deux voies de signalisation. Mes résultats favorisent l’hypothèse que la signalisation GABA, en activant la calcium-calmoduline, converge vers la signalisation adénosine en potentiant les adenylates cyclases sensibles au calcium. Mon travail m’a permis de proposer que, au cours d’une période clé du développement, les A2ARs postsynaptiques agissent comme des senseurs de l’activité des terminaisons présynaptiques GABAergiques pour stabiliser les synapses actives. En absence d’activité et donc de libération d’adénosine/ATP, les synapses seraient éliminées. / In the adult brain, adenosine signaling facilitates or inhibits neurotransmitter vesicular release mainly through activation of type 2A or 1 adenosine receptors (A2AR or A1R), respectively. However, its role in development remains to be elucidated. During my PhD, I addressed the role of A2AR-mediated signalling in GABAergic synaptogenesis in the hippocampus. We found (i) a larger activity-dependent release of ATP and adenosine during the period of synaptogenesis in the hippocampus, (ii) a peak of expression of the ecto-5’-nucleotidase, the rate-limiting enzyme for the formation of adenosine from extracellular ATP in synapses during this critical period, and (iii) a peak of peri/post-synaptic expression of A2AR concomitant with the period of synaptogenesis. This developmental expression of the key molecules of the adenosine A2AR signalling pathway correlated with a role of A2AR in the stabilization of nascent GABA synapses, a regulation restricted to the period of synaptogenesis. Furthermore, suppressing A2AR with a shRNA approach in isolated neurons led to a loss of synapses equivalent to that seen upon A2AR activity blockade, reporting that the A2AR-mediated synapse stabilization is a cell autonomous process that requires A2AR activation in the postsynaptic cell. ATP/adenosine can be secreted by both glia and neurons; however, we found that activity-dependent release of neuronal adenosine is sufficient to stabilize newly formed GABA synapses in vitro. Using live cell imaging, we showed adenosine signalling stabilizes active synapses. We then characterized the molecular mechanism downstream postsynaptic A2AR. We report the contribution of adenylyl cyclase/cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A signalling cascade and we identified a key target, the postsynaptic scaffolding molecule gephyrin. We further showed the A2AR-mediated stabilization of the presynaptic compartment most probably requires the trans-synaptic Slitrk3-PTPd complex. Since GABA exerts a similar function during development and GABA and adenosine are co-released at some synapses, I further investigated the interplay between these two pathways. My results support the hypothesis that GABA signalling converge onto the adenosine signalling pathway by potentiating calcium-sensitive adenylyl cyclases through the activation of calmodulin.Altogether these results let us propose that, during a key developmental period, postsynaptic A2ARs act as sensors of the activity of GABAergic presynaptic terminals to stabilize active nascent GABAergic synapses. In absence of activity and therefore secretion of adenosine/ATP, synapses will be eliminated.

Recently, several studies have demonstrated that G protein coupled receptors exist as homo/heterodimers or oligomers. Adenosine A2A receptors and dopamine D2 receptors are present as both homo- and heterodimer. In the GABAergic striatopallidal neurons A2AR are co- localized with D2 receptors (D2R), and establish functional A2AR-D2R heteromers, which modulates dopaminergic activity. Due to be involved in physiological processes, these receptors bear critical roles. Dopamine receptors play critical role in dopaminergic pathways in regulation of memory, food intake and psychomotor activity, etc. On the other hand, adenosine A2A receptors are involved in the regulations of neurotransmission, immune response and cardiovascular systems. Dopamine D2R andadenosine A2AR have been shown to interact in striatum and modulate dopaminergic activity The purpose of this study is to assess the functionality of EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) and mCherry (a red fluorescent protein) tagged adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors and to detect homo/ hetero-dimerization of these receptors in live cells via Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). Understanding the mechanisms of the interaction between adenosine and dopamine signaling will help us to figure out some molecular mechanism of neurophysiological disorders. Furthermore, the fluorescence based live cell model could be used to observe the effects of potential anti-psychotic drugs on the interaction of these two receptors.

Recent studies demonstrate that there are several G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that dimerize with other GPCRs and form heterodimers. Adenosine A2A-Dopamine D2 receptor interaction is one of the examples for GPCR heterodimerization. Both receptors bear critical roles in physiological processes. Adenosine A2A receptor has functions in neurotransmission, cardiovascular system and immune response. On the other hand, dopamine receptors are the key point of dopaminergic system, which controls the regulation of memory, attention, food intake, endocrine regulation, psychomotor activity and positive reinforcement. Deregulation in dopamine signaling could cause neurological disorders such as Parkinson&rsquo / s disease and schizophrenia. Dopamine D2R and adenosine A2AR have been shown to interact in striatum and modulate dopaminergic activity. The purpose of this study is to optimize Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) method to detect dimerization of D2R and A2AR by tagging them with EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) and mCherry (a red fluorescent protein) in live N2a cell line using laser scanning confocal microscope. Establishing this model will pave the ways for understanding mechanisms of interaction between dopamine and adenosine signaling, thereby, contributing to the understanding molecular mechanisms of some neurophysiological events and disorders. Moreover, the fluorescence based live cell model will be used to detect effects of potential anti-psychotic drugs on the interaction of these two receptors. Indeed, follow-up studies are necessary to extend the limits of this project. Further imaging analyses and drug-receptor interaction studies can be readily applied to extract more information on dopamine-adenosine signaling by using the system developed with this thesis study.