Skip to main content
Log in

Purinergic systems in microglia

  • Review
  • Published:
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Accumulating findings indicate that nucleotides play an important role in microglia through P2 purinoceptors. P2 purinoceptors are divided into two families, ionotropic receptors (P2X) and metabotropic receptors (P2Y). P2X receptors (7 types; P2X1 – P2X7) contain intrinsic pores that open by binding with ATP. P2Y receptors (8 types; P2Y1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13 and 14) are activated by nucleotides and couple to intracellular second-messenger systems through heteromeric G-proteins. Nucleotides are released or leaked from non-excitable cells as well as neurons in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Microglia express many types of P2 purinoceptors and are known as resident macrophages in the CNS. ATP and other nucleotides work as ‘warning molecules’ especially through activating microglia in pathophysiological conditions. Microglia play a key role in neuropathic pain, chemotaxis and phagocytosis through nucleotide-evoked activation of P2X4, P2Y12 and P2Y6 receptors, respectively. These findings indicate that extracellular nucleotides are important players in the central stage of microglial function.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Inoue.

Additional information

Received 19 April 2008; received after revision 20 May 2008; accepted 23 May 2008

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Inoue, K. Purinergic systems in microglia. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 65, 3074–3080 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8210-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8210-3

Keywords.

Navigation