Changes in E-NTPDase 3 expression and extracellular nucleotide hydrolysis during the myofibroblast/lipocyte differentiation

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) play a critical role in the development and maintenance of liver fibrosis. HSC are lipocytes that displayed the capacity to develop into myofibroblast-like cells. Ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (E-NTPDases) regulate the concentration of extracellular nucleotides, signaling molecules that play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. In the present study, we identified and compared the expressions of E-NTPDase family members in two different phenotypes of the mouse hepatic stellate cell line (GRX) and evaluated the nucleotide hydrolysis by these cells. We show that both phenotypes of GRX cell line expressed NTPDase 3 and 5. However, only activated cells expressed NTPDase 6. In quiescent-like cells, the hydrolysis of triphosphonucleosides was significantly higher, and was related to an increase in Entpd3 mRNA expression. The diphosphonucleosides were hydrolyzed at a similar rate by two phenotypes of GRX cells. We suggest that up-regulation of Entpd3 mRNA expression modulates the extracellular concentration of nucleotides/nucleosides and affect P2-receptor signaling differently in quiescent-like cells and may play a role in the regulation of HSC functions.