Cited by 1,267Adenosine and Purinergic SignalingInflammasome and immune disordersPain Mechanisms and Treatments

The P2X7 Receptor in Infection and Inflammation

Open access
Di Virgilio, Francesco, Dal Ben, Diego, Sarti, Alba Clara, Giuliani, Anna Lisa, Falzoni, Simonetta·2017·Immunity

Abstract

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) accumulates at sites of tissue injury and inflammation. Effects of extracellular ATP are mediated by plasma membrane receptors named P2 receptors (P2Rs). The P2R most involved in inflammation and immunity is the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), expressed by virtually all cells of innate and adaptive immunity. P2X7R mediates NLRP3 inflammasome activation, cytokine and chemokine release, T lymphocyte survival and differentiation, transcription factor activation, and cell death. Ten human P2RX7 gene splice variants and several SNPs that produce complex haplotypes are known. The P2X7R is a potent stimulant of inflammation and immunity and a promoter of cancer cell growth. This makes P2X7R an appealing target for anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer therapy. However, an in-depth knowledge of its structure and of the associated signal transduction mechanisms is needed for an effective therapeutic development.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.immuni.2017.06.020

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  • P2X7 is widely expressed by immune cells and is the most studied purinergic receptor involved in neurodegeneration.

    “P2X7, which is widely expressed by immune cells, is the most studied purinergic receptors involved in neurodegeneration.374,375”

    From Role of neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration development (2023) · cites this paper as [374]

    The Introduction describes P2X7 as having a firmly established role in multiple immune and inflammatory responses, and the inflammation section discusses its effects in lymphocytes and macrophages. This supports its broad relevance to immune cells, but the paper does not say it is the most studied purinergic receptor involved in neurodegeneration. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Hyperactivation of P2X7 receptors is closely related to inflammatory processes because they are stimulated by ATP released from distressed cells and induce inflammasome activation.

    “Hyperactivation of P2X7 receptors is closely related to inflammatory processes since they are stimulated by ATP released from distressed cells and induce inflammasome activation [16–18].”
  • ATP may act as a DAMP, which activates the nuclear transcription factor NF-κB, resulting in expression upregulation of pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 and the NLRP3 protein.

    “In these circumstances, ATP may act as DAMP, which activates the nuclear transcription factor NF-κB resulting in expression upregulation of pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 and the NLRP3 protein [16, 71].”
  • Consequently, there is an activation of caspase-1 and maturation of IL-1β and IL-18, resulting in pro-inflammatory cytokine release.

    “Consequently, there is an activation of caspase-1 and maturation of IL-1β and IL-18, resulting in pro-inflammatory cytokine release [16, 20, 52, 71, 73].”
  • The P2X7 receptor is a major activator of the NLRP3 inflammasome in several cell types, including macrophages and microglial cells.

    “The P2X7 receptor is a major activator of the NLRP3 inflammasome in several cell types [16], including macrophages and microglial cells [72, 74–76].”

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Authors
Di Virgilio, F., Dal Ben, D., Sarti, A. C., Giuliani, A. L., & Falzoni, S.
Affiliations
University of Ferrara (IT)
Venue
Immunity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-07
Volume
47
Issue
1
Pages
15-31
ISSN
1074-7613 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2737555531
Cited by
1,267
References
199
Citations by year
2026: 167 · 2025: 138 · 2024: 164 · 2023: 155 · 2022: 160 · 2021: 161 · 2020: 132 · 2019: 102 · 2018: 78 · 2017: 9 · 2012: 1
FWCI
9.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Immunity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Unicam Scientific Publications (University of Camerino) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Institutional Research Information System University of Ferrara (University of Ferrara) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Italian Association for Cancer Research (IG 13025, IG 18581)
  • Telethon of Italy (GGP06070)
  • ERA-NET Neuron Joint Transnational Project “Nanostroke,” the Ministry of Health of Italy (RF-2011-02348435)
  • Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (RBAP11FXBC_001)
  • University of Ferrara
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Physiology › Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Inflammasome and immune disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
Keywords
P2X7 receptor, extracellular ATP, purinergic receptors, NLRP3 inflammasome, inflammation, innate immunity, adaptive immunity, cytokine and chemokine secretion, single nucleotide polymorphisms, cancer, anti-inflammatory therapy, cancer therapy, signal transduction, receptor structure
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Differentiation, Humans, Infections, Inflammation, Macrophages, T-Lymphocytes, Receptors, Purinergic P2X7, Inflammasomes, Purinergic P2X Receptor Agonists

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