Triggering of major brain disorders by protons and ATP: the role of ASICs and P2X receptors

Abstract

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is well-known as a universal source of energy in living cells. Less known is that this molecule has a variety of important signaling functions: it activates a variety of specifc metabotropic (P2Y) and ionotropic (P2X) receptors in neuronal and non-neuronal cell membranes. So, a wide variety of signaling functions well fts the ubiquitous presence of ATP in the tissues. Even more ubiquitous are protons. Apart from the unspecifc interaction of protons with any protein, many physiological processes are afected by protons acting on specifc ionotropic receptors–acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs). Both protons (acidifcation) and ATP are locally elevated in various pathological states. Using these fundamentally important molecules as agonists, ASICs and P2X receptors signal a variety of major brain pathologies. Here we briefy outline the physiological roles of ASICs and P2X receptors, focusing on the brain pathologies involving these receptors.