Title:Tackling Chronic Pain and Inflammation through the Purinergic System
Volume: 25
Issue: 32
Author(s): Giulia Magni, Daniele Riccio and Stefania Ceruti*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milan,Italy
Keywords:
P1 receptors, P2X receptors, P2Y receptors, Adenosine, ATP, UTP, ectonucleotidases, membrane
transporters.
Abstract: The purinergic system is composed of purine and pyrimidine transmitters, the
enzymes that modulate the interconversion of nucleotides and nucleosides, the membrane
transporters that control their extracellular concentrations, and the many receptor subtypes
that are responsible for their cellular responses. The components of this system are ubiquitously
localized in all tissues and organs, and their involvement in several physiological
conditions has been clearly demonstrated. Moreover, extracellular purine and pyrimidine
concentrations rise several folds under pathological conditions like tissue damage, ischemia,
and inflammation, which suggest that this signaling system might contribute both to
disease outcome and, possibly, to its tentative resolution. The complexity of this system
has greatly impaired the clear identification of the mediators and receptors that are actually
involved in a given pathology, also due to the often opposite roles played by the various
receptor subtypes. Nevertheless, this knowledge is fundamental for the possible exploitation
of these molecular entities as targets for the development of new pharmacological
approaches. In this review, we aim at highlighting what is currently known on the role
of the purinergic system in various pain conditions and during inflammatory processes.
Although some confusion may arise from conflicting results, literature data clearly show
that targeting specific purinergic receptors may represent an innovative approach to various
pain and inflammatory conditions, and that new purine-based drugs are now very
close to reach the market with these indications.
