title: Signaling Pathways of Purinergic Receptors and Their Interactions with Cholinergic and Adrenergic Pathways in the Lacrimal Gland.
abstract: Purinergic receptors play a key role in the function of the lacrimal gland (LG) as P1 purinergic receptors A1, A2A, and A2B, P2X1-7receptors, and many of the P2Y receptors are expressed.
  
  
  
  This review examines the current knowledge of purinergic receptors in the LG as well as the signaling pathways activated by these receptors.
  
  
  
  These receptors are expressed on the acinar, ductal, and myoepithelial cells. Considerable crosstalk exists between the pathways activated by P2X7receptors with those activated by M3muscarinic or α1Dadrenergic receptors. The mechanism of the crosstalk between P2X7and M3muscarinic receptors differs from that of the crosstalk between P2X7and α1Dadrenergic receptors.
  
  
  
  Understanding purinergic receptors and how they modulate protein secretion could play a key role in normal and pathological responses of the LG.
authors.affiliation: Schepens Eye Research Institute/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Robin R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.affiliation: Schepens Eye Research Institute/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Darlene A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dartt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic
keywords: cellular signaling; cross talk of signaling pathways; lacrimal gland; myoepithelial cell; protein secretion; purinergic receptor