Luciferase-assisted detection of extracellular ATP and ATP metabolites during immunogenic death of cancer cells

Abstract

The efficacy of cancer chemotherapy is enhanced by induction of sustainable anti-tumor immune responses. Such responses involve accumulation of immunogenic mediators, such as extracellular ATP and ATP metabolites, within the tumor microenvironment. Recent studies have identified nucleotide-permeable plasma membrane channels or pores that are activated as early downstream consequences of different regulated cell death pathways: pannexin-1 channels in apoptosis, MLKL pores in necroptosis, and gasdermin-family pores in pyroptosis. This chapter describes the use of highly quantitative and semi-high-throughput methods based on the ATP sensor luciferase to measure dynamic changes in extracellular ATP, ADP, and AMP in tissue/cell culture models of cancer cells during various modes of regulated cell death in response to chemotherapeutic drugs, death receptors, or metabolic perturbation.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Chemotherapeutic drug; Ecto-nucleotidase; Extracellular ATP; Immunogenic cell death; Luciferase; Necroptosis; Pannexin-1 channel; Purinergic receptor.