Regulation of endothelial CD73 by adenosine: Paracrine pathway for enhanced endothelial barrier functions

During episodes of inflammation, multiple cell types release adenine nucleotides in the form of ATP, ADP, 5'-AMP, and adenosine, In particular, following activation, polymorphonuclear leukocytes release larger quantities of 5'-AMP, Extracellular 5'-AMP is metabolized to adenosine by surface-expressed 5'-ectonucleotidase (CD73), Adenosine liberated by this process activates surface adenosine A,, receptors, results in endothelial junctional reorganization, and promotes barrier function. We hypothesized that adenosine signaling to endothelia provides a paracrine loop for regulated expression of CD73 and enhanced endothelial barrier function. Using an in vitro microvascular endothelial model, we investigated the influence of 5'-AMP; adenosine; and adenosine analogues on CD73 transcription, surface expression,and function. Initial experiments revealed that adenosine and adenosine analogues induce CD73 mRNA (RT-PCR), surface expression(immunoprecipitation of surface biotinylated CD73), and function (HPLC analysis of etheno-AMP conversion to ethenoadenosine) in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion. Subsequent studies revealed that similar exposure conditions increase surface protein through transcriptional induction of CD73. Analysis of DNA-binding activity by EMSA identified a functional role for CD73 cAMP response element and, moreover, indicated that multiple cAMP agonists induce transcriptional activation of functional CD73. Induced CD73 functioned to enhance 5'-AMP-mediated promotion of endothelial barrier (measured as a paracellular Bur of 70-kDa FITC-labeled tracer). These results provide an example of transcriptional induction of enzyme (CD73) by enzymatic product (adenosine) and define a paracrine pathway for the regulated expression of vascular endothelial CD73 and barrier function.