Identification and cloning of human P 2U purinoceptor present in osteoclastoma, bone, and osteoblasts

Extracellular ATP acting through purinoceptors may be an important factor in the modulation of bone turnover. In this study we cloned and sequenced the P 2U purinoceptor from osteoclastoma, confirming the recently published human sequence. Furthermore, by the reverse transcriptase‐linked polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Southern blotting we demonstrated expression of P 2U receptor mRNA in bone, primary cultures of human bone‐derived cells, and two osteosarcoma cell lines, Saos2 and Te85. P 2U receptor transcripts were identified in alkaline phosphatase‐positive human bone‐derived cells isolated by flow cytometry providing strong evidence for the expression of the P 2U purinoceptor in mature osteoblasts. P 2U receptor transcripts were also detected in a purified giant cell population isolated from osteoclastoma, indicating that this receptor is also expressed by osteoclasts. These data suggest that purinergic agonists may play a role in the regulation of bone metabolism.