NTPDase and 5'-nucleotidase activities in physiological and disease conditions: New perspectives for human health

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Schetinger, Maria Rosa C. | Morsch, Vera Maria | Bonan, Carla Denise | Wyse, Angela T.S.

Affiliations: Laboratório de Enzimologia Toxicológica, Departamento de Química, CCNE, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, no 1000, Cidade Universitária, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria – RS, 97105-900 | Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Faculdade de Biociências, PUC/RS. Avenida Ipiranga, 6681 – Prédio 12, Bloco D, 3° andar, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil | Departamento de Bioquímica, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, CEP 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: mariaschetinger@gmail.com

Abstract: Extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides act as signaling molecules involved in a wide spectrum of biological effects. Their levels are controlled by a complex cell surface-located group of enzymes called ectonucleotidases. There are four major families of ectonucleotidases, nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases/CD39), ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (E-NPPs), alkaline phosphatases and ecto-5'-nucleotidase. In the last few years, substantial progress has been made toward the molecular identification of members of the ectonucleotidase families and their enzyme structures and functions. In this review, there is an emphasis on the involvement of NTPDase and 5'-nucleotidase activities in disease processes in several tissues and cell types. Brief background information is given about the general characteristics of these enzymes, followed by a discussion of their roles in thromboregulatory events in diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and cancer, as well as in pathological conditions where platelets are less responsive, such as in chronic renal failure. In addition, immunomodulation and cell-cell interactions involving these enzymes are considered, as well as ATP and ADP hydrolysis under different clinical conditions related with alterations in the immune system, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and infections associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Finally, changes in ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis induced by inborn errors of metabolism, seizures and epilepsy are discussed in order to highlight the importance of these enzymes in the control of neuronal activity in pathological conditions. Despite advances made toward understanding the molecular structure of ectonucleotidases, much more investigation will be necessary to entirely grasp their role in physiological and pathological conditions.

Keywords: NTPDases, ectonucleotidases, extracellular ATP, adenosine, purinergic system

Journal: BioFactors, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 77-98, 2007