Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Although the intracellular role of ATP as an energy source was well established soon after its discovery, the role of ATP as an extracellular signalling molecule was slow to be accepted. There were early descriptions of the extracellular actions of ATP on the heart and blood vessels [1] and the nervous system [2]. Release of ATP from sensory nerve collaterals during antidromic stimulation was demonstrated [3] and in 1970, ATP was proposed as a neurotransmitter in non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic autonomic nerves and the term ‘purinergic’ established [4]. However, it was not generally accepted until both ionotropic and metabotropic receptors for ATP were cloned and characterised in the early to mid 1990s (see [5]). There followed a rapid explosion of interest in purinergic signalling in a wide range of biological systems, including nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, immune, urinogenital, musculo-skeletal and gastrointestinal systems and the special senses (see [6]) and studies of changes in expression of receptors during development, ageing and disease (see [7]). There is strong recent emphasis on the therapeutic potential of purinergic agents (see [8]). My international colleagues and I, together with Springer, feel that it is timely to launch a journal devoted to purinergic signalling to bring together the diverse molecular, physiological, biochemical, pharmacological and clinical studies of different systems and to encourage bridges to be built between basic science, clinical medicine and industrial development.
The new journal was announced at the Purines 2004 Meeting in Chapel Hill and we are most grateful to Ken Harden and his organising team to allow us to approach the many outstanding participants that were invited to speak at the Meeting, to contribute papers in the inaugural issues.
References
AN Drury A Szent-Györgyi (1929) ArticleTitleThe physiological activity of adenosine compounds with special reference to their action upon the mammalian subtypes J Physiol (Lond) 68 213–237 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaA3cXis1aitQ%3D%3D
N Emmelin W Feldberg (1948) ArticleTitleSystemic effects of adenosine triphosphate Br J Pharmacol Chemother 3 273–284 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaH1MXhtlGmsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle18102596
P Holton (1959) ArticleTitleThe liberation of adenosine triphosphate on antidromic stimulation of sensory nerves J Physiol (Lond) 145 494–504 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaG1MXht1Cisr4%3D
G Burnstock (1972) ArticleTitlePurinergic nerves Pharmacol Rev 24 509–581 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE38Xls1ahtLc%3D Occurrence Handle4404211
V Ralevic G Burnstock (1998) ArticleTitleReceptors for purines and pyrimidines Pharmacol Rev 50 413–492 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXmvFamur0%3D Occurrence Handle9755289
G Burnstock G Knight (2004) ArticleTitleCellular distribution and functions of P2 receptor subtypes in different systems Int Rev Cyt 240 31–304 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0074-7696(04)40002-3 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXos1SltA%3D%3D
MP Abbracchio G Burnstock (1998) ArticleTitlePurinergic signalling: Pathophysiological roles Jpn J Pharmacol 78 113–145 Occurrence Handle10.1254/jjp.78.113 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXmvFyqs70%3D Occurrence Handle9829617
G. Burnstock (2002) ArticleTitlePotential therapeutic targets in the rapidly expanding field of purinergic signalling Clin Med 2 45–53 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s102380200006 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD387js1yguw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11871639
Rights and permissions
This article is published under an open access license. Please check the 'Copyright Information' section either on this page or in the PDF for details of this license and what re-use is permitted. If your intended use exceeds what is permitted by the license or if you are unable to locate the licence and re-use information, please contact the Rights and Permissions team.
About this article
Cite this article
Editorial. Purinergic Signalling 1, 1 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11302-004-4739-2
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11302-004-4739-2