title: Neurotrophic effects of extracellular guanosine.
abstract: Central nervous system (CNS) astrocytes release guanosine extracellularly, that exerts trophic effects. In CNS, extracellular guanosine (GUO) stimulates mitosis, synthesis of trophic factors, and cell differentiation, including neuritogenesis, is neuroprotective, and reduces apoptosis due to several stimuli. Specific receptor-like binding sites for eGUO in the nervous system may mediate its effects through both MAP kinase and PI3-kinase signalling pathways. Extracellular guanine (eGUA) also exerts several effects; the trophic effects of eGUO are likely regulated by conversion of eGUO to eGUA by a membrane located purine nucleoside phosphorylase (ecto-PNP) and by conversion of eGUA to xanthine by guanine deaminase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine-Neurology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. mrathbon@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rathbone
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pilutti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caciagli
authors.forename: Shucui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D006151:Guanosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D006151:Guanosine