Extracellular nucleotides act as local intercellular messengers. In response to various stimuli, nucleotides can be released from the cytosol of damaged cells, exocytosis vesicles and efflux through membrane channel. In the extracellular fluids, nucleotides are rapidely degraded by ecto-nucleotidases, such as CD39,CD39L1 and CD73. Extracellular nucleotides activate the P2 receptor family .This family of receptors can be divided into 2 groups: P2X1-7R ( ionotropic receptors) and P2YR ( G protein-coupled receptors). Nowadays, there are eight accepted human P2Y receptors: P2Y1,2,4,6,11,12,13,14.<p>To determine the physiological roles of P2Y receptor family, our laboratory generated different strains of P2Y knockout mice (P2Y4 ,6 and 13). In collaboration with A. Gartland ,I. And Arnett TR Orriss ( Sheffield and London University) ,it has been observed that the P2Y13R-/- mice exhibit an impaired bone tissue metabolism that leads to a reduction in the volume of the femoral trabecular bone and the number of trabeculae. This phenotype is correlated with the decrease in the number of osteoblasts at the endo-cortical bone surface .<p>We therefore examined whether P2Y13 R activation was involved in the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In the first part of our work we have shown that :<p>Induction of the MSCs differentiation is associated with the release of ATP and its conversion to ADP (agonist of the P2Y13R). ATP release probably involves the pannexine1 while the conversion of ATP into ADP is probably due to the activity of the ecto-nucleotidase CD39L1.<p>ADP stimulation of P2Y13 R+/+ (but not P2Y13 R-/-) adherent bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) increased significantly the formation of alkaline phosphatase-colony forming units (CFU-ALP), as well as the expression of osteoblastic genes such as Osterix involved in the maturation of pre-osteoblasts into osteoblasts. The number of CFU-ALP obtained from P2Y13 R-/- BMSC and the level of osteoblastic gene expression after osteogenic stimulation were also strongly reduced compared to those obtained in wild-type cell cultures. In contrast, when P2Y13 R-/- BMSCs were incubated in an adipogenic medium, the number of adipocytes generated and the level of adipogenic gene expression (PPARγ2 and Adipsin) were higher than those obtained in P2Y13 R+/+ MSC. We also observed a significant increase of the number of bone marrow adipocytes in tibia of P2Y13 R-/- mice. <p>The P2ry12 gene deletion (also activated by ADP) also affects the ability of BMSCs to differentiate into osteoblasts but stimulates adipogenic differentiation.<p>In a second part of our work ,we have shown that the pro- osteogenic action of P2Y13R is indirect. Indeed ,this receptor is not expressed by MSCs but by adherent myeloid cells present in the bone marrow cell cultures (characterized by the expression of CD11b and CD45 markers) .In addition, we observed that following receptor activation by ADP ,these myeloid cells produce BMP2 factor.<p>We therefor propose that the stimulation of MSCs differentiation induces CD45- adherent cells to release ATP that is converted into ADP, most probably by the up-regulated CD39L1 ectonucleotidase. This ADP stimulates P2Y12R and P2Y13R expressed by CD45+/CD11b+ myeloid cells leading to the release of the osteogenic factor BMP2. This cytokine favours the maturation of pre-osteoblasts into osteoblasts and concomitantly inhibits the maturation of pre-adipocytes.<p> / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished