Role of purines in brain development, from neuronal proliferation to synaptic refinement
Abstract
The purinergic system includes P1 and P2 receptors, which are activated by ATP and its metabolites. They are expressed in adult neuronal and glial cells and are crucial in brain function, including neuromodulation and neuronal signaling. As P1 and P2 receptors are expressed throughout embryogenesis and development, purinergic signaling also has an important role in the development of the peripheral and central nervous system. In this review, we present the expression pattern and activity of purinergic receptors and of their signaling pathways during embryonic and postnatal development of the nervous system. In particular, we review the involvement of the purinergic signaling in all the crucial steps of brain development i.e. in neural stem cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation and migration as well as in astrogliogenesis and oligodendrogenesis. Then, we review data showing a crucial role of the ATP and adenosine signaling pathways in the formation of the peripheral neuromuscular junction and of central GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses. Finally, we examine the consequences of deregulation of the purinergic system during development and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting it at adult stage in diseases with reactivation of the ATP and adenosine pathway. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Purinergic Signaling: 50 years".
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BibTeX
@article{rimbert2026role,
title = {{Role of purines in brain development, from neuronal proliferation to synaptic refinement}},
author = {Solen Rimbert and João Moreira and Sara Xapelli and Sabine Lévi},
journal = {Neuropharmacology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109640},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05784009v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Role of purines in brain development, from neuronal proliferation to synaptic refinement
AU - Solen Rimbert
AU - João Moreira
AU - Sara Xapelli
AU - Sabine Lévi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Neuropharmacology
DO - 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109640
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05784009v1
AB - The purinergic system includes P1 and P2 receptors, which are activated by ATP and its metabolites. They are expressed in adult neuronal and glial cells and are crucial in brain function, including neuromodulation and neuronal signaling. As P1 and P2 receptors are expressed throughout embryogenesis and development, purinergic signaling also has an important role in the development of the peripheral and central nervous system. In this review, we present the expression pattern and activity of purinergic receptors and of their signaling pathways during embryonic and postnatal development of the nervous system. In particular, we review the involvement of the purinergic signaling in all the crucial steps of brain development i.e. in neural stem cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation and migration as well as in astrogliogenesis and oligodendrogenesis. Then, we review data showing a crucial role of the ATP and adenosine signaling pathways in the formation of the peripheral neuromuscular junction and of central GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses. Finally, we examine the consequences of deregulation of the purinergic system during development and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting it at adult stage in diseases with reactivation of the ATP and adenosine pathway. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Purinergic Signaling: 50 years".
SN - 0028-3908
SN - 1873-7064
ER -