title: Trophic functions of nucleotides in the central nervous system.
abstract: In addition to short-term effects, one of the fundamental roles of extracellular nucleotides in the central nervous system involves long-term trophic effects. Physiological outcomes include neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, glial proliferation, migration, growth arrest and apoptosis. Nucleotides exert these functions via P2-receptor-mediated mechanisms that can also interact with polypeptide-growth-factor-mediated or integrin-mediated signaling pathways. In addition, pathogenic roles for extracellular nucleotides in response to central nervous system injury including trauma and ischemia have been observed after the release of nucleotides by damaged and dying cells and in the development of neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Here, we illuminate the contribution of extracellular nucleotides to the development, growth, cellular plasticity and death of neural cells and the mechanisms regulating these trophic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Neary
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009711:Nucleotides