Abstract
In the respiratory system, extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides serve as signaling molecules for a wide spectrum of biological functions regulating airway defenses against infection and toxic material. Their concentrations are controlled by a complex network of cell surface enzymes named ectonucleotidases. This highly integrated metabolic network combines the activities of three dephosphorylating ectonucleotidases, namely nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases), nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (NPPs) and alkaline phosphatases (APs). Extracellular nucleotides are also inter-converted by the transphosphorylating activities of ecto adenylate kinase (ectoAK) and nucleoside diphosphokinase (NDPK). Different cell types use specific combinations of ectonucleotidases to regulate local concentrations of P2 receptor agonists (ATP, UTP, ADP and UDP). In addition, they provide AMP for the activity of ecto 5'-nucleotidase (ecto 5'-NT; CD73), which produces the P1 receptor agonist: adenosine (ADO). Finally, mechanisms are in place to prevent the accumulation of airway ADO, namely adenosine deaminases and nucleoside transporters. This chapter reviews the properties of each enzyme and transporter, and the current knowledge on their distribution and regulation in the airways.
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