Title:Purinergic Signaling and its Role in the Stem Cell Differentiation
Volume: 24
Issue: 8
Author(s): Sumera Zaib*, Areeba and Imtiaz Khan*
Affiliation:
- Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore,
54590, Pakistan
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester,
M1 7DN, United Kingdom
Keywords:
Adult stem cells, ligand-gated ion channels, proliferation, purinergic antagonists, purinergic receptors, stem cell differentiation.
Abstract: Purinergic signaling is a mechanism in which extracellular purines and pyrimidines interact
with specialized cell surface receptors known as purinergic receptors. These receptors are divided
into two families of P1 and P2 receptors, each responding to different nucleosides and nucleotides.
P1 receptors are activated by adenosine, while P2 receptors are activated by pyrimidine and
purines. P2X receptors are ligand-gated ion channels, including seven subunits (P2X1-7). However,
P2Y receptors are the G-protein coupled receptors comprising eight subtypes
(P2Y1/2/4/6/11/12/13/14). The disorder in purinergic signaling leads to various health-related issues
and diseases. In various aspects, it influences the activity of non-neuronal cells and neurons. The
molecular mechanism of purinergic signaling provides insight into treating various human diseases.
On the contrary, stem cells have been investigated for therapeutic applications. Purinergic signaling
has shown promising effect in stem cell engraftment. The immune system promotes the autocrine
and paracrine mechanisms and releases the significant factors essential for successful stem cell therapy.
Each subtype of purinergic receptor exerts a beneficial effect on the damaged tissue. The most
common effect caused by purinergic signaling is the proliferation and differentiation that treat different
health-related conditions.
