[New targets for drug therapeutics: receptors for purines and pyrimidines].

Endogenous nucleoside and nucleotide mediate a lot of functions via cell surface P receptors (receptors for purines and pyrimidines) in many organs. Nucleoside and nucleotide have protective roles in the events such as cancer, apoptosis, ischemia, wound healing, osteoporosis, drug toxicity, inflammation and pain. Moreover, the development of selective agonists and antagonists for P1, P2 receptors and P receptor subtypes may provide novel drugs in therapeutic strategies.