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Purinergic receptors and neglected tropical diseases: why ignore purinergic signaling in the search for new molecular targets?

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Abstract

Purinergic receptors are widespread in the human organism and are involved in several physiological functions like neurotransmission, nociception, platelet aggregation, etc. In the immune system, they may regulate the expression and release of pro-inflammatory factors as well as the activation and death of several cell types. It is already described the participation of some purinergic receptors in the inflammation and pathological processes, such as a few neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) which affect more than 1 billion people in the world. Although the high social influence those diseases represent endemic countries, most of them do not have an efficient, safe or affordable drug treatment. In that way, this review aims to discuss the current literature involving purinergic receptor and immune response to NTDs pathogens, which may contribute in the search for new therapeutic possibilities.

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Abbreviations

ATP:

Adenosine Triphosphate

cAMP:

3′-5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate

COX:

cyclooxygenase

DCs:

dendritic cells

IP3:

inositol triphosphate

MT:

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

NK cells:

natural killer

NLRs:

NOD-like receptors

NO:

nitric oxide

NTDs:

Negleted Tropical Diseases

P2R:

P2 rec1eptors

PAMPs:

pathogen-associated molecular patterns

PRRs:

pattern recognition receptors

RLRs:

RIG-I–like receptors

TcEcto-NTPDases:

ecto-nucleoside thriphosphate diphosphohydrolase

TLRs:

Toll-Like receptors

TM:

transmembrane domains

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Author notes

  1. P. A. F. Pacheco and L. P. Dantas contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil

    P. A. F. Pacheco

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Biology Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil

    L. P. Dantas

  3. Laboratory of Inflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    L. G. B. Ferreira

  4. Laboratory of Toxoplasmosis and other Protozoans, FIOCRUZ, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Robson Xavier Faria

  5. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Toxoplasmose e outras Protozooses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, sala 32; Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 21045-900, Brazil

    Robson Xavier Faria

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Contributions

PAFP – wrote P2R section and P2Rs and diseases, LPD – wrote P2R section and P2Rs and diseases, LGBF – wrote P2R section and P2Rs and diseases, RXF – planned and reviewed P2R section and P2Rs and diseases. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Robson Xavier Faria.

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Pacheco, P.A.F., Dantas, L.P., Ferreira, L.G.B. et al. Purinergic receptors and neglected tropical diseases: why ignore purinergic signaling in the search for new molecular targets?. J Bioenerg Biomembr 50, 307–313 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10863-018-9761-0

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