Ectonucleotidases in Inflammation, Immunity, and Cancer

Abstract

Nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases) are a family of enzymes that hydrolyze nucleotides such as ATP, UTP, ADP, and UDP to monophosphates derivates such as AMP and UMP. The NTPDase family consists of eight enzymes, of which NTPDases 1, 2, 3, and 8 are expressed on cell membranes thereby hydrolyzing extracellular nucleotides. Cell membrane NTPDases are expressed in all tissues, in which they regulate essential physiological tissue functions such as development, blood flow, hormone secretion, and neurotransmitter release. They do so by modulating nucleotide-mediated purinergic signaling through P2 purinergic receptors. NTPDases 1, 2, 3, and 8 also play a key role during infection, inflammation, injury, and cancer. Under these conditions, NTPDases can contribute and control the pathophysiology of infectious, inflammatory diseases and cancer. In this review, we discuss the role of NTPDases, focusing on the less understood NTPDases 2–8, in regulating inflammation and immunity during infectious, inflammatory diseases, and cancer.