title: A P2X purinoceptor expressed by a subset of sensory neurons.
abstract: ATP is known to depolarize sensory neurons, and may play a role in nociceptor activation when released from damaged tissue. Here we report the molecular cloning and characterization of a new member of the P2X receptor family, P2X3, expressed by these cells. The channel transcript was present in a subset of rat dorsal-root-ganglion sensory neurons, some of which express nociceptor-associated markers; it was absent in other tissues that were tested, including sympathetic, enteric and central nervous system neurons. Moreover, when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the channel showed an ATP-dependent cation flux. P2X3 is the only ligand-gated channel known to be expressed exclusively by a subset of sensory neurons. The remarkable selectivity of expression of the channel coupled with its sensory neuron-like pharmacology suggests that this channel may transduce ATP-evoked nociceptor activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University College, London, UK.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Akopian
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sivilotti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colquhoun
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burnstock
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004594:Electrophysiology; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: C546410:P2rx3 protein, rat; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3