title: Ionotropic ATP receptors in neuronal-glial communication.
abstract: In the central nervous system ATP is released from both neurones and astroglial cells acting as a homo- and heterocellular neurotransmitter. Glial cells express numerous purinoceptors of both ionotropic (P2X) and metabotropic (P2Y) varieties. Astroglial P2X receptors can be activated by ongoing synaptic transmission and can mediate fast local signalling through elevation in cytoplasmic Ca(2+) and Na(+) concentrations. These ionic signals can be translated into various physiological messages by numerous pathways, including release of gliotransmitters, metabolic support of neurones and regulation of activity of postsynaptic glutamate and GABA receptors. Ionotropic purinoceptors represent a novel pathway of glia-driven modulation of synaptic signalling that involves the release of ATP from neurones and astrocytes followed by activation of P2X receptors which can regulate synaptic activity by variety of mechanisms expressed in both neuronal and glial compartments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Ulyana
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lalo
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verkhratsky
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pankratov
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D006801:Humans; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate