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Purinergic Signalling in Physiology and Pathophysiology 2.0
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Purinergic Signalling in Physiology and Pathophysiology 2.0

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2025 | Viewed by 8570

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ronald Sluyter

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
Interests: cellular immunology; cancer immunology; transplant immunology; neuroimmunology; purinergic signalling; P2X7 receptors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides are essential autocrine and paracrine signalling molecules. The action of these extracellular molecules is mediated by the activation of cell-surface receptors comprising P2X ion channels, as well as P2Y and adenosine G-protein-coupled receptors. Furthermore, the concentrations of extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides are regulated by various ectoenzymes and nucleotide/nucleoside release and transport mechanisms. Collectively, these molecules and processes form a network of cellular communication termed purinergic signalling. This network occurs in a wide range of cells and tissues, and plays important roles in physiology and pathophysiology in various species.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide current examples and overviews of the various roles of purinergic signalling in a range of physiological and pathophysiological contexts. Original articles and reviews relating to specific purinergic receptors, ectoenzymes or nucleotide/nucleoside release and transport mechanisms, as well as those providing holistic views of purinergic signalling, are welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Ronald Sluyter
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • purinergic signalling
  • purinome
  • ATP
  • ADP
  • UTP
  • UDP
  • UDP-glucose
  • adenosine
  • P2X receptors
  • P2Y receptors
  • P1 receptors
  • adenosine receptors
  • ectoenzymes
  • nucleotidases
  • nucleotide release
  • nucleoside release
  • nucleotide transport
  • nucleoside transport

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2047 KiB  
Article
P2X7 Receptor-Induced Human Mast Cell Degranulation Is Enhanced by Interleukin 33
by Barbora Salcman, Rajia Bahri, Peter W. West, Chiara Tontini, Karen Affleck and Silvia Bulfone-Paus
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(3), 1730; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031730 - 31 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1469
Abstract
MCs are tissue-resident immune cells that strategically reside in barrier organs and respond effectively to a wide range of stimuli, such as IL-33, a mediator released upon epithelial damage. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) accumulates at sites of tissue injury and is known to modulate [...] Read more.
MCs are tissue-resident immune cells that strategically reside in barrier organs and respond effectively to a wide range of stimuli, such as IL-33, a mediator released upon epithelial damage. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) accumulates at sites of tissue injury and is known to modulate MC activities. This study investigated how an inflammatory tissue environment rich in IL-33 modulates the ATP-mediated activation of MCs. Human primary MCs primed with IL-33 displayed a strongly increased response to ATP but not ADP. This resulted in increased degranulation, IL-8 release, and pERK1/2 signalling. Such effects are unique to IL-33 stimulation and not shared by the epithelial alarmin, TSLP. MC exposure to IL-33 also increased membrane expression of purinergic and ATP-binding P2X receptors. The use of selective P2X receptor inhibitors identified P2X7 receptor as the key mediator of the enhanced ATP-induced ERK1/2 signalling and degranulation in IL-33-primed MCs. Whilst the inhibition of P2X1 and P2X4 receptors had no effect on MC degranulation, inhibiting these receptors together with P2X7 resulted in further decreased MC-mediated degranulation. These data therefore point toward the potential mechanisms by which IL-33 contributes to the modulation of ATP-mediated activation in human MCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Purinergic Signalling in Physiology and Pathophysiology 2.0)
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13 pages, 2733 KiB  
Article
Elevated CD39+T-Regulatory Cells and Reduced Levels of Adenosine Indicate a Role for Tolerogenic Signals in the Progression from Moderate to Severe COVID-19
by Alaa Elsaghir, Ehsan M. W. El-Sabaa, Asmaa M. Zahran, Sahar A. Mandour, Eman H. Salama, Sahar Aboulfotuh, Reham M. El-Morshedy, Stefania Tocci, Ahmed Mohamed Mandour, Wael Esmat Ali, Lobna Abdel-Wahid, Ibrahim M. Sayed and Mohamed A. El-Mokhtar
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(24), 17614; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242417614 - 18 Dec 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1647
Abstract
Viral infections trigger inflammation by controlling ATP release. CD39 ectoenzymes hydrolyze ATP/ADP to AMP, which is converted by CD73 into anti-inflammatory adenosine (ADO). ADO is an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant molecule which can enhance viral persistence and severity. The CD39-CD73-adenosine axis contributes to the [...] Read more.
Viral infections trigger inflammation by controlling ATP release. CD39 ectoenzymes hydrolyze ATP/ADP to AMP, which is converted by CD73 into anti-inflammatory adenosine (ADO). ADO is an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant molecule which can enhance viral persistence and severity. The CD39-CD73-adenosine axis contributes to the immunosuppressive T-reg microenvironment and may affect COVID-19 disease progression. Here, we investigated the link between CD39 expression, mostly on T-regs, and levels of CD73, adenosine, and adenosine receptors with COVID-19 severity and progression. Our study included 73 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, of which 33 were moderately affected and 40 suffered from severe infection. A flow cytometric analysis was used to analyze the frequency of T-regulatory cells (T-regs), CD39+ T-regs, and CD39+CD4+ T-cells. Plasma concentrations of adenosine, IL-10, and TGF-β were quantified via an ELISA. An RT-qPCR was used to analyze the gene expression of CD73 and adenosine receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3). T-reg cells were higher in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls (7.4 ± 0.79 vs. 2.4 ± 0.28; p < 0.0001). Patients also had a higher frequency of the CD39+ T-reg subset. In addition, patients who suffered from a severe form of the disease had higher CD39+ T-regs compared with moderately infected patients. CD39+CD4+ T cells were increased in patients compared to the control group. An analysis of serum adenosine levels showed a marked decrease in their levels in patients, particularly those suffering from severe illness. However, this was paralleled with a marked decline in the expression levels of CD73. IL-10 and TGF-β levels were higher in COVID-19; in addition, their values were also higher in the severe group. In conclusion, there are distinct immunological alterations in CD39+ lymphocyte subsets and a dysregulation in the adenosine signaling pathway in COVID-19 patients which may contribute to immune dysfunction and disease progression. Understanding these immunological alterations in the different immune cell subsets and adenosine signaling provides valuable insights into the pathogenesis of the disease and may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting specific immune mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Purinergic Signalling in Physiology and Pathophysiology 2.0)
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18 pages, 5338 KiB  
Article
A Regulator Role for the ATP-Binding Cassette Subfamily C Member 6 Transporter in HepG2 Cells: Effect on the Dynamics of Cell–Cell and Cell–Matrix Interactions
by Ilenia Matera, Rocchina Miglionico, Vittorio Abruzzese, Giovanna Marchese, Giovanna Maria Ventola, Maria Antonietta Castiglione Morelli, Faustino Bisaccia and Angela Ostuni
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16391; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216391 - 16 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1587
Abstract
There is growing evidence that various ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters contribute to the growth and development of tumors, but relatively little is known about how the ABC transporter family behaves in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common cancers worldwide. Cellular model [...] Read more.
There is growing evidence that various ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters contribute to the growth and development of tumors, but relatively little is known about how the ABC transporter family behaves in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common cancers worldwide. Cellular model studies have shown that ABCC6, which belongs to the ABC subfamily C (ABCC), plays a role in the cytoskeleton rearrangement and migration of HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells, thus highlighting its role in cancer biology. Deep knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed results could provide therapeutic insights into the tumors in which ABCC6 is modulated. In this study, differential expression levels of mRNA transcripts between ABCC6-silenced HepG2 and control groups were measured, and subsequently, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed. Real-Time PCR and Western blot analyses confirmed bioinformatics; functional studies support the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects. The results provide valuable information on the dysregulation of fundamental cellular processes, such as the focal adhesion pathway, which allowed us to obtain detailed information on the active role that the down-regulation of ABCC6 could play in the biology of liver tumors, as it is involved not only in cell migration but also in cell adhesion and invasion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Purinergic Signalling in Physiology and Pathophysiology 2.0)
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14 pages, 2028 KiB  
Article
Low Pretreatment CD4+:CD8+ T Cell Ratios and CD39+CD73+CD19+ B Cell Proportions Are Associated with Improved Relapse-Free Survival in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
by Ross J. Turner, Thomas V. Guy, Nicholas J. Geraghty, Ashleigh Splitt, Debbie Watson, Daniel Brungs, Martin G. Carolan, Andrew A. Miller, Jeremiah F. de Leon, Morteza Aghmesheh and Ronald Sluyter
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(16), 12538; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241612538 - 8 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1717
Abstract
The ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73 are present on immune cells and play important roles in cancer progression by suppressing antitumour immunity. As such, CD39 and CD73 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are emerging as potential biomarkers to predict disease outcomes and treatment [...] Read more.
The ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73 are present on immune cells and play important roles in cancer progression by suppressing antitumour immunity. As such, CD39 and CD73 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are emerging as potential biomarkers to predict disease outcomes and treatment responses in cancer patients. This study aimed to examine T and B cells, including CD39 and CD73 expressing subsets, by flow cytometry in PBMCs from 28 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to assess the correlation with the treatment modality, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, and relapse-free survival (RFS). The PBMCs were examined pre-, mid-, and post-radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy or anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody (cetuximab) therapy. Combination radiotherapy caused changes to T and B cell populations, including CD39 and CD73 expressing subsets, but no such differences were observed between concurrent chemotherapy and cetuximab. Pretreatment PBMCs from HPV+ patients contained increased proportions of CD39−CD73−CD4+ T cells and reduced proportions of CD39−/+CD73+CD4+ T cells compared to the equivalent cells from HPV− patients. Notably, the pretreatment CD4+:CD8+ T cell ratios and CD39+CD73+CD19+ B cell proportions below the respective cohort medians corresponded with an improved RFS. Collectively, this study supports the notion that CD39 and CD73 may contribute to disease outcomes in HNSCC patients and may assist as biomarkers, either alone or as part of immune signatures, in HNSCC. Further studies of CD39 and CD73 on PBMCs from larger cohorts of HNSCC patients are warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Purinergic Signalling in Physiology and Pathophysiology 2.0)
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Review

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28 pages, 1146 KiB  
Review
Purinergic Signaling in Non-Parenchymal Liver Cells
by Esperanza Mata-Martínez, María Guadalupe Ramírez-Ledesma, Genaro Vázquez-Victorio, Rolando Hernández-Muñoz, Mauricio Díaz-Muñoz and Francisco G. Vázquez-Cuevas
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9447; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179447 - 30 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1068
Abstract
Purinergic signaling has emerged as an important paracrine–autocrine intercellular system that regulates physiological and pathological processes in practically all organs of the body. Although this system has been thoroughly defined since the nineties, recent research has made substantial advances regarding its role in [...] Read more.
Purinergic signaling has emerged as an important paracrine–autocrine intercellular system that regulates physiological and pathological processes in practically all organs of the body. Although this system has been thoroughly defined since the nineties, recent research has made substantial advances regarding its role in aspects of liver physiology. However, most studies have mainly targeted the entire organ, 70% of which is made up of parenchymal cells or hepatocytes. Because of its physiological role, the liver is exposed to toxic metabolites, such as xenobiotics, drugs, and fatty acids, as well as to pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. Under injury conditions, all cell types within the liver undergo adaptive changes. In this context, the concentration of extracellular ATP has the potential to increase dramatically. Indeed, this purinergic response has not been studied in sufficient detail in non-parenchymal liver cells. In the present review, we systematize the physiopathological adaptations related to the purinergic system in chronic liver diseases of non-parenchymal liver cells, such as hepatic stellate cells, Kupffer cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells, and cholangiocytes. The role played by non-parenchymal liver cells in these circumstances will undoubtedly be strategic in understanding the regenerative activities that support the viability of this organ under stressful conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Purinergic Signalling in Physiology and Pathophysiology 2.0)
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