title: P2 receptors and extracellular ATP: a novel homeostatic pathway in inflammation.
abstract: Inflammation is an important homeostatic response, which is managed by a complex network of interrelated pathways that determine the level, intensity and localization of inflammation. We now know that purinergic signalling is one of the pathways influencing the initiation, progression and down-modulation of the inflammatory response. Here, we review recent evidence on the role in inflammation of the purinergic signalling system, which is comprised of extracellular ATP, P2 receptors and ecto-enzyme cascades. Recent animal studies with a newly developed bioluminescent ATP probe (pmeLUC), enabling measurement of pericellular ATP in situ, have provided proof that ATP is present in inflamed tissues in vivo at extracellular concentrations sufficient for P2 receptor activation. Increased extracellular ATP levels amplify inflammation in vivo by promoting leukocyte recruitment and NALP3-inflammasome activation via P2X7. Lowering extracellular ATP levels in inflamed tissues, for instance by stimulating its breakdown, inhibits the inflammatory response in vivo. In view of its important role in inflammation, the purinergic signalling system is bound to yield novel therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University, Department of Epidemiology, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht, The Netherlands. M.Bours@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: Martijn Jan Leo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bours
authors.forename: Pieter Cornelis
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Dagnelie
authors.forename: Anna Lisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wesselius
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Virgilio
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D058847:Inflammasomes; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; C453881:NLRP3 protein, human; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate