The P2X7 receptor: a main player in inflammation.

The P2X7 receptor: a main player in inflammation. Biochem Pharmacol. 2017 Dec 27;: Authors: Adinolfi E, Lisa Giuliani A, De Marchi E, Pegoraro A, Orioli E, Di Virgilio F Abstract Damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are intracellular molecules released from infected or injured cells to activate inflammatory and reparatory responses. One of the most ancient and conserved DAMPs is extracellular ATP (eATP) that exerts its phlogistic activity mainly through activation of the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R). The P2X7 is an ATP gated ion channel, expressed by most immune cells, including the monocyte-derived cell lineages, T and B lymphocytes an their precursors. Here we give an overview of recent and established literature on the role of P2X7R in septic and sterile inflammation. P2X7R ability in restraining intracellular bacteria and parasite infection by modulation of the immune response is described, with particular focus on Mycobacteria and Plasmodium. Emerging literature on the role of P2X7 in viral infections such as HIV-1 is also briefly covered. Finally, we describe the numerous intracellular pathways related to inflammation and activated by the P2X7R, including the NLRP3 inflammasome, NF-kB, NFAT, GSK3β and VEGF, and discuss the involvement of P2X7R in chronic diseases. The possible therapeutic applications of P2X7R antagonists is also described. PMID: 29288626 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Biochemical Pharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Biochem Pharmacol Source Type: research