The function of almost all cells of the human and animal body is synchronized by purinergic/pyrimidinergic extracellular signaling molecules. This network activity is especially efficient in the central and peripheral nervous systems, driven by secretion of the (co)transmitter ATP (including its enzymatic degradation products ADP, AMP, and adenosine), as well as ATP/UTP (including UDP) released from the cytoplasm by either Ca²⁺-dependent vesicular exocytosis or by non-exocytotic pathways via a family of diverse channels. It must be pointed out that neural cells (neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes) are equal sources of nucleotides/nucleosides, as non-neural cells (e.g. the endothelium of small blood vessels). A whole plethora of purinergic receptors responding to the endogenously released purine and pyrimidine nucleotides as well to adenosine, are instrumental in providing the structural basis for cell stimulation. The present collection of papers summarizes current knowledge and recent findings in the medicinal chemistry, electrophysiology, neuropharmacology and neurobiology of purinergic transmission. Accruing evidence supports the key role of extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides in neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and in neuropsychiatric diseases, thus paving the way for pharmacological intervention thanks to the development of novel brain-permeant, drug-like, purinergic ligands. We are confident that these therapies will open a new avenue for the treatment of so far uncurable diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

人体和动物体几乎所有细胞的功能都是通过嘌呤能/嘧啶能细胞外信号分子同步的。这种网络活动在中枢和外周神经系统中特别有效，由（共）递质 ATP（包括其酶降解产物 ADP、AMP 和腺苷）以及 ATP/UTP（包括 UDP）释放的分泌驱动。通过 Ca ^{2+依赖性囊泡胞吐作用或}通过一系列不同通道的非胞吐途径进入细胞质。必须指出的是，神经细胞（神经元、星形胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞）与非神经细胞（例如小血管内皮）具有相同的核苷酸/核苷来源。大量的嘌呤能受体对内源释放的嘌呤和嘧啶核苷酸以及腺苷作出反应，有助于为细胞刺激提供结构基础。本论文集总结了嘌呤能传递的药物化学、电生理学、神经药理学和神经生物学的当前知识和最新发现。越来越多的证据支持细胞外核苷酸和核苷在神经炎症、神经变性和神经精神疾病中的关键作用，从而为药物干预铺平了道路，这要归功于新型脑渗透性药物样嘌呤能配体的开发。我们相信，这些疗法将为治疗迄今为止无法治愈的中枢和周围神经系统疾病开辟一条新途径。