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A P2X purinoceptor expressed by a subset of sensory neurons

Nature volume 377, pages 428–431 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

ATP is known to depolarize sensory neurons, and may play a role in nociceptor activation when released from damaged tissue1-10. Here we report the molecular cloning and characterization of a new member of the P2X receptor family3,11,12, P2X3, expressed by these cells. The channel transcript was present in a subset of rat dorsal-root-ganglion sensory neurons, some of which express nociceptor-associated markers; it was absent in other tissues that were tested, including sympathetic, enteric and central nervous system neurons. Moreover, when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the channel showed an ATP-dependent cation flux. P2X3 is the only ligand-gated channel known to be expressed exclusively by a subset of sensory neurons. The remarkable selectivity of expression of the channel coupled with its sensory neuron-like pharmacology suggests that this channel may transduce ATP-evoked nociceptor activation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Chih-Cheng Chen, Armen N. Akopian, Geoffrey Burnstock & John N. Wood

  2. Department of Pharmacology, University College, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Lucia Sivilottit & David Colquhoun

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  1. Chih-Cheng Chen
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  2. Armen N. Akopian
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  3. Lucia Sivilottit
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  4. David Colquhoun
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  5. Geoffrey Burnstock
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  6. John N. Wood
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Chen, CC., Akopian, A., Sivilottit, L. et al. A P2X purinoceptor expressed by a subset of sensory neurons. Nature 377, 428–431 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/377428a0

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