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 (A₁R, A_2AR, A_2BR, and A₃R). We previously demonstrated that the Gs-coupled A_2BR 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_2BR ligands in a dorsal root ganglion neuron (DRGN)/OPC cocultures, a corroborated in vitro myelination assay. The A_2BR 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_2BR antagonists, PSB-603 and MRS1706. To clarify this unexpected data, we wondered whether A_2BRs could play a functional role on DRGNs. We first demonstrated, by immunocytochemistry, that primary DRGN monoculture expressed A_2BRs. 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_2BR-dependent enhancement of neuronal activity, DRGNs could release factors to facilitate myelination processes. Finally, silencing A_2BR in DRGNs alone prevents the increased myelination induced by BAY60-6583 in cocultures. In conclusion, our data suggest a different role of A_2BR during oligodendrogliogenesis and myelination, depending on their activation on neurons or oligodendroglial cells.