Purinergic control of neutrophil activation.
Neutrophils constitute the first line of defense against invading pathogens, but they also are responsible for tissue destruction in pathological conditions. In a recent paper published in Science Signaling, Junger and colleagues show that adenosine 5'-triphosphate release and signaling through purinergic P2 receptors upon neutrophil activation by bacterial and inflammatory stimuli represents an important mechanism for effective neutrophil functional response and host protection.
Grassi
Fabio
F
Institute for Research in Biomedicine, CH-6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland. fabio.grassi@irb.unisi.ch
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate