Adenosine A2B receptors differently modulate oligodendrogliogenesis and myelination depending on their cellular localization

Differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) into mature oligodendrocytes (OLs) is a key event for axonal myelination in the brain; this process fails during demyelinating pathologies. Adenosine is emerging as an important player in oligodendrogliogenesis, by activating its metabotropic receptors (A(1)R, A(2A)R, A(2B)R, and A(3)R). We previously demonstrated that the Gs-coupled A(2B)R reduced differentiation of primary OPC cultures by inhibiting delayed rectifier (I-K) as well as transient (I-A) outward K+ currents. To deepen the unclear role of this receptor subtype in neuron-OL interplay and in myelination process, we tested the effects of different A(2B)R ligands in a dorsal root ganglion neuron (DRGN)/OPC cocultures, a corroborated in vitro myelination assay. The A(2B)R agonist, BAY60-6583, significantly reduced myelin basic protein levels but simultaneously increased myelination index in DRGN/OPC cocultures analyzed by confocal microscopy. The last effect was prevented by the selective A(2B)R antagonists, PSB-603 and MRS1706. To clarify this unexpected data, we wondered whether A(2B)Rs could play a functional role on DRGNs. We first demonstrated, by immunocytochemistry, that primary DRGN monoculture expressed A(2B)Rs. Their selective activation by BAY60-6583 enhanced DRGN excitability, as demonstrated by increased action potential firing, decreased rheobase and depolarized resting membrane potential and were prevented by PSB-603. Throughout this A(2B)R-dependent enhancement of neuronal activity, DRGNs could release factors to facilitate myelination processes. Finally, silencing A(2B)R in DRGNs alone prevents the increased myelination induced by BAY60-6583 in cocultures. In conclusion, our data suggest a different role of A(2B)R during oligodendrogliogenesis and myelination, depending on their activation on neurons or oligodendroglial cells.