Purinoceptors in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Tropic actions of extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides have been described in both the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as for numerous other cell types. These effects on cellular differentiation and proliferation are mediated by specific cell surface P1 and P2 receptors. In some cases, extracellular purines act synergistically with polypeptide growth factors. The signal-transduction pathways that couple the P1 or P2 receptors to changes in cell growth are beginning to be uncovered. The trophic actions of purines have both physiological and pathological implications and may play important roles in development and synaptogenesis as well as in tissue injury and repair. Drug Dev. Res. 39:407–412, 1996.