Purinergic Signaling Pathway

Purinergic signaling is a form of extracellular signaling mediated by purine nucleotides and nucleosides, primarily adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine (ADO). These molecules act as signaling messengers by binding to specific membrane receptors on the surface of the same cell (autocrine) or neighboring cells (paracrine), thereby regulating a wide range of cellular functions. It involves P1 receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3) that respond to adenosine and P2 receptors that respond to ATP and ADP, further subdivided into P2X (ligand-gated ion channels) and P2Y (G-protein–coupled receptors). Dysregulation is implicated in numerous diseases, offering potential therapeutic targets.