Extracellular creatine kinase may modulate purinergic signalling.

Extracellular purine nucleotides and nucleosides including ADP and ATP regulate a wide array of physiological processes including platelet aggregation, vasomotor responses and inflammation through specific purinergic receptors. In the recent years, a strong association has been reported between circulating cytoplasmic-type creatine kinase and adverse clinical outcomes such as major bleeding, hypertension and obesity. Therefore, it is proposed that extracellular CK may modulate purinergic signalling through its ADP binding and/or ATP-generating effect.