Nucleotides and their receptors in the nervous system. 1-2 August 1998, Leipzig, Germany

This meeting was the second in four months to cover the role of P2 purinoreceptors in tissue function and pathophysiology, the previous being the Sixth International Symposium on Adenosine and Adenine Nucleotides held in Ferrara, Italy in May. There was, therefore, a paucity of new data. A major theme of the meeting was the complexity of purinergic signaling due to ATP degradation to adenosine by ectonucleotidase activity. The characterization of receptor function was limited by the purported selectivity and potency of available antagonists, but some new P2Y1 receptor antagonists were presented. An interesting rumor emanating from the main IUPHAR meeting was that Pfizer had developed a P2X7 receptor knockout mouse that cannot produce IL-1beta, supporting the hypothesis, described below, that ATP acting via this receptor is critical in activating ICE (interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme). Approximately 120 people attended the meeting and 48 posters were presented.