Cited by 437Adenosine and Purinergic SignalingInflammasome and immune disordersGout, Hyperuricemia, Uric Acid

The P2X7 Receptor in Inflammatory Diseases: Angel or Demon?

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Savio, Luiz E. B., de Andrade Mello, Paola, da Silva, Cleide Gonçalves, Coutinho-Silva, Robson·2018·Frontiers in Pharmacology

Abstract

Under physiological conditions, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is present at low levels in the extracellular milieu, being massively released by stressed or dying cells. Once outside the cells, ATP and related nucleotides/nucleoside generated by ectonucleotidases mediate a high evolutionary conserved signaling system: the purinergic signaling, which is involved in a variety of pathological conditions, including inflammatory diseases. Extracellular ATP has been considered an endogenous adjuvant that can initiate inflammation by acting as a danger signal through the activation of purinergic type 2 receptors-P2 receptors (P2Y G-protein coupled receptors and P2X ligand-gated ion channels). Among the P2 receptors, the P2X7 receptor is the most extensively studied from an immunological perspective, being involved in both innate and adaptive immune responses. P2X7 receptor activation induces large-scale ATP release via its intrinsic ability to form a membrane pore or in association with pannexin hemichannels, boosting purinergic signaling. ATP acting via P2X7 receptor is the second signal to the inflammasome activation, inducing both maturation and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β and IL-18, and the production of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species. Furthermore, the P2X7 receptor is involved in caspases activation, as well as in apoptosis induction. During adaptive immune response, P2X7 receptor modulates the balance between the generation of T helper type 17 (Th17) and T regulatory (Treg) lymphocytes. Therefore, this receptor is involved in several inflammatory pathological conditions. In infectious diseases and cancer, P2X7 receptor can have different and contrasting effects, being an angel or a demon depending on its level of activation, cell studied, type of pathogen, and severity of infection. In neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, P2X7 upregulation and function appears to contribute to disease progression. In this review, we deeply discuss P2X7 receptor dual function and its pharmacological modulation in the context of different pathologies, and we also highlight the P2X7 receptor as a potential target to treat inflammatory related diseases.

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  • P2X7 receptor modulates acute and chronic infection, inflammatory diseases, sepsis, neuropathic pain, and T-cell activation.

    “It was already reported its capacity to modulate acute and chronic infection [81, 82], inflammatory diseases [82], sepsis [83, 84], neuropathic pain [85], and T-cell activation [86].”

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Authors
Savio, L. E. B., de Andrade Mello, P., da Silva, C. G., & Coutinho-Silva, R.
Affiliations
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BR)
Venue
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Published
2018-02-06
Volume
9
Pages
52-52
ISSN
1663-9812 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2793479725
Cited by
437
References
377
Citations by year
2026: 38 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 52 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 66 · 2020: 71 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 17
FWCI
5.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Pharmacology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (05/2016, Edital 05/2016)
  • Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Nota-10)
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 › Nephrology › Gout, Hyperuricemia, Uric Acid
Keywords
P2X7 receptor, purinergic signaling, extracellular ATP, inflammatory diseases, inflammasome activation, IL-1β, IL-18, caspase activation, Th17/Treg balance, neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, cancer, pharmacological modulation

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