In order to investigate whether purinoceptors are involved in the physiological renewal and regeneration of epithelia, we used immunohistochemical techniques on fresh frozen sections of various stratified squamous epithelial tissues (cornea, tongue, soft palate, oesophagus, vagina and footpad) of the rat and specific polyclonal antibodies to unique peptide sequences of P2X1–7 receptors. Only two of the antibodies, anti-P2X5 and anti-P2X7, reacted with epithelial structures. P2X5 immunoreactivity was mainly associated with the membranes of the proliferating and differentiating cell layers (spinous and granular layer) in both keratinised and non-keratinised epithelia and growing hair follicles. In contrast, P2X7 immunoreactivity was clearly associated with the keratinisation process, the staining being most intense in the upper keratinised and the exfoliated layers. These findings suggest, for the first time, that P2X5 and P2X7 receptors play an important role in the physiological turnover of continuously regenerating cells, and further, raise the possibility that they represent novel targets for the development of pharmacological tools of potential benefit for diseases of epithelial dysfunction.
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Similar content being viewed by others Explore related subjectsDiscover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning. Author information Authors and AffiliationsInstitut für Zoologie, Technische Universität, Darmstadt, Germany, , , , , , DE
U. Gröschel-Stewart
Autonomic Neuroscience Institute, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK e-mail: g.burnstock@ucl.ac.uk; Tel.: +44 171–830–2948; Fax: +44 171–830–2949, , , , , , GB
Michelle Bardini, T. Robson & G. Burnstock
Received: 6 November 1998 / Accepted: 7 January 1999
About this article Cite this articleGröschel-Stewart, U., Bardini, M., Robson, T. et al. Localisation of P2X5 and P2X7 receptors by immunohistochemistry in rat stratified squamous epithelia. Cell Tissue Res 296, 599–605 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004410051321
Issue Date: May 1999
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004410051321
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