Abstract
The role of extracellular nucleotides as modulators of inflammation and cell stress is well established. One of the main actions of these molecules is mediated by the activation of purinergic receptors (P2) of the plasma membrane. P2 receptors can be classified according to two different structural families: P2X ionotropic ion channel receptors, and P2Y metabotropic G protein-coupled receptors. During inflammation, damaged cells release nucleotides and purinergic signaling occurs along the temporal pattern of the synthesis of pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving mediators by myeloid and lymphoid cells. In macrophages under pro-inflammatory conditions, the expression and activity of cyclooxygenase 2 significantly increases and enhances the circulating levels of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), which exerts its effects both through specific plasma membrane receptors (EP1-EP4) and by activation of intracellular targets. Here we review the mechanisms involved in the crosstalk between PGE(2) and P2Y receptors on macrophages, which is dependent on several isoforms of protein kinase C and protein kinase D1. Due to this crosstalk, a P2Y-dependent increase in calcium is blunted by PGE(2) whereas, under these conditions, macrophages exhibit reduced migratory capacity along with enhanced phagocytosis, which contributes to the modulation of the inflammatory response and tissue repair.