Nucleotide release and purinergic signaling make up the earliest response to corneal injury and are vital for proper wound healing. In this study, we review the importance of nucleotide release in the injury response and focus on the contribution of 2 receptors that mediate purinergic signaling, P2Y2 and P2X7. These receptors mediate the early response to injury and activate downstream signaling to promote cytoskeletal rearrangement and cell migration. The contribution of corneal nerves to the purinergic injury response is also discussed. Finally, we look at implications of altered purinergic signaling in diabetic wound healing and important targets for future research.
Keywords: P2X7; P2Y2; cornea; purinergic signaling; wound healing.