Extracellular nucleosides and nucleotides regulate liver functions via a complex system of membrane proteins

Abstract

Nucleosides and nucleotides are now considered as extracellular signalling molecules, like neurotransmitters and hormones. Hepatic cells, amongst other cells, ubiquitously express specific transmembrane receptors that transduce the physiological signals induced by extracellular nucleosides and nucleotides, as well as various cell surface enzymes that regulate the levels of these mediators in the extracellular medium. Here, we cover various aspects of the signalling pathways initiated by extracellular nucleosides and nucleotides in the liver, and discuss their overall impact on hepatic physiology.