Hyperglycemia-induced Renal P2X7 Receptor Activation Enhances Diabetes-related Injury.

Diabetes is a leading cause of renal disease. Glomerular mesangial expansion and fibrosis are hallmarks of diabetic nephropathy and this is thought to be promoted by infiltration of circulating macrophages. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) has been shown to attract macrophages in kidney diseases.

P2 purinoceptors: Renal pathophysiology and therapeutic potential.

P2 purinoceptors, categorized into P2X and P2Y receptors, bind extracellular ATP and related di- and tri-phosphate nucleotides and are expressed throughout the kidney. P2X receptors are non-selective cation channels and P2Y receptors are metabotropic G protein-coupled receptors. Both families may couple to a range of second messenger systems and provoke outcomes including cell proliferation, cytokine secretion, membrane channel regulation and cell death.