The Purinergic System and Glial Cells: Emerging Costars in Nociception
Figure 2
Plasticity of purinergic signaling within sensory ganglia upon proinflammatory conditions. The cartoon schematically summarizes currently available data on the modulation of P2 receptor expression by proalgogenic and proinflammatory conditions in sensory ganglia. An increased line weight indicates receptor upregulation, which has been observed in both sensory neurons and surrounding satellite glial cells. Some receptor subtypes (i.e., glial P2Y12 receptor subtype) are only detected upon algogenic conditions. Activation of P2 receptors by extracellular nucleotides leads to the modulation of other systems involved in nociception, like TRPV1 receptors, and in the release of additional cytokines, growth factors, and other substances (see box), further contributing to the development and maintenance of a proalgogenic milieu. Reproduced from [75] with permission from Elsevier.
