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Alerting and tuning the immune response by extracellular nucleotides
Author(s) -
Sala Andrea,
Ferrari Davide,
Di Virgilio Francesco,
Idzko Marco,
Norgauer Johannes,
Girolomoni Giampiero
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.0802418
Subject(s) - immune system , extracellular , biology , proinflammatory cytokine , inflammation , nucleotide , microbiology and biotechnology , adenosine , immunology , biochemistry , gene
The interplay between pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms during inflammatory and immune responses is critical for avoiding excessive tissue damage. Extracellular nucleotides (e.g., adenosine 5′‐triphosphate) may represent constitutive signals that can alert the immune system of abnormal cell death. Relatively high doses of nucleotides induce rapid release of proinflammatory mediators and favor pathogen killing. However, recent findings on antigen presenting cells, particularly dendritic cells, revealed a more complex role for these molecules. Chronic exposure to low‐dose nucleotides can redirect cellular responses to prototypic activation stimuli, leading to suppressed inflammation and immune deviation.