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P2 Receptors of microglia: sensors for danger signals in the CNS
Author(s) -
Di Virgilio F.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.81.s1.63_3.x
Subject(s) - microglia , purinergic receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , inflammation , cytokine , extracellular , autocrine signalling , paracrine signalling , biology , immune system , neuroglia , chemotaxis , immunology , central nervous system , neuroscience , biochemistry
Following tissue damage or invasion by pathogens a number of soluble signals are generated to alert the immune system of the impending danger and initiate inflammation. Some danger signals are released from injured or dying cells. Once released, danger signals activate a autocrine/paracrine network that recruits inflammatory cells, stimulates cytokine production, promotes dendritic cell maturations and increases the antigen (Ag) presenting efficiency. These events also occurs in the central nervous system (CNS) where cytokines and cytokine‐releasing cells have a central role in spreading inflammation. P2 receptors of microglia are the focus of increasing interest, especially after they were shown to mediate chemotaxis, cytokine release and cell death in microglia. We propose that P2 receptors may function in microglia as sensors of the ATP/UTP concentration in the pericellular space, and therefore as sensors of danger signals in the CNS. Furthermore, microglia itself can release ATP when stimulated by inflammatory stimuli. Thus extracellular nucleotides may be included in the family of the early inflammatory mediators acting via P2 receptors to spread inflammation in the CNS. References
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