Expression data from mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs)

To recruit phagocytes, apoptotic cells characteristically release ATP, which functions as a danger signal. Here, we found that the culture supernatant of apoptotic cells activated the macrophages to express anti-inflammatory genes such as NR4A and Thbs1. A high level of AMP accumulated in the apoptotic cell supernatant in a Pannexin1-dependent manner. A nucleotidase inhibitor and A2a adenosine receptor antagonist inhibited the apoptotic supernatant-induced gene expression, suggesting AMP was metabolized to adenosine by an ecto-5-nucleotidase expressed on macrophages, to activate the macrophage A2a adenosine receptor. Intraperitoneal injection of zymosan into AdoR A2a- or Panx1-deficient mice produced high, sustained levels of inflammatory mediators in the peritoneal lavage. These results indicated that AMP from apoptotic cells suppresses inflammation as a calm down signal.

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Yamaguchi H, Maruyama T, Urade Y, Nagata S