Pannexin-1 mediated ATP release in adipocytes is sensitive to glucose and insulin and modulates lipolysis and macrophage migration

Extracellular ATP signaling is involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes, and purinergic receptors are targets for drug therapy in several diseases, including obesity and diabetes. Adipose tissue has crucial functions in lipid and glucose metabolism and adipocytes express purinergic receptors. However, the sources of extracellular ATP in adipose tissue are not yet characterized. Here, we show that upon adrenergic stimulation white adipocytes release ATP through the pannexin-1 pore that is regulated by a cAMP-PKA dependent pathway. The ATP release correlates with increased cell metabolism, and extracellular ATP induces Ca 2+ signaling and lipolysis in adipocytes and promotes macrophages migration. Most importantly, ATP release is markedly inhibited by insulin, and thereby auto/paracrine purinergic signaling in adipose tissue would be attenuated. Furthermore, we define the signaling pathway for insulin regulated ATP release.Our findings reveal the insulin-pannexin-1-purinergic signaling cross-talk in adipose tissue and we propose that deregulation of this signaling may underlie adipose tissue inflammation and type-2 diabetes.