title: Extracellular ATP: a further modulator in neuroendocrine control of the thymus.
abstract: It is well established that the process of thymocyte differentiation and maturation occurs in the thymus, where cell-to-cell communication is essential for providing the messages to T-cell precursors. At least two pathways are important for such communication: one via membrane surface molecules and the other via soluble mediators such as cytokines and some hormones. Recently, the presence of receptors for extracellular ATP has been demonstrated on thymocytes and microenvironment cells, and putative functions for this molecule have been proposed. Herein we focus on the recent evidence which supports the view of extracellular ATP and some related nucleotides as novel intrathymic signal molecules. In addition, we discuss the possible physiological implications of such purinergic receptors for the physiology of the thymus.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisas sobre o Timo, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.alveslaa@gene.dbbm.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coutinho-Silva
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Savino
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002118:Calcium