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The P2X7 Receptor

Ronald Sluyter1,2,3

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia. rsluyter@uow.edu.au.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|July 6, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The P2X7 receptor, an ion channel found on many cell types, plays key roles in health and disease by regulating cellular events. This review details its gene, variants, regulation, and interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The P2X7 receptor is a trimeric ion channel activated by extracellular ATP.
  • It is expressed on a wide range of cell types, including stem, blood, glial, neural, and immune cells.
  • This receptor influences diverse cellular processes such as inflammation, proliferation, cell death, and phagocytosis, highlighting its significance in health and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of the P2X7 receptor.
  • To cover the P2RX7 gene, its splice and polymorphic variants.
  • To review modulators, transcriptional regulation, post-translational modifications, interaction partners, and cellular localization of the P2X7 receptor.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on P2X7 receptor.
  • Analysis of protein chemistry data (cloning, mutagenesis, crystallography, modeling).
  • Examination of data from primary tissues and transgenic mouse models.

Main Results:

  • The P2X7 receptor's structure, function, and expression patterns are increasingly understood.
  • Knowledge of P2RX7 gene regulation, including transcriptional and non-coding RNA control, has expanded.
  • Post-translational modifications (glycosylation, ADP-ribosylation, palmitoylation) and interaction partners are being elucidated.

Conclusions:

  • The P2X7 receptor is a critical mediator of cellular functions with broad implications in physiological and pathological conditions.
  • Further research into its complex regulatory mechanisms and interactions will enhance understanding of its roles.
  • This review consolidates current knowledge, providing a foundation for future investigations into P2X7 receptor biology and therapeutic targeting.
Keywords:
Extracellular ATPGene transcriptionInteraction partnerIonotropic receptorLigand-gated ion channelP2RX7 geneP2X7 interactomeP2X7 receptorPost-translational modificationPurinergic receptorPurinergic signalingReceptor localisationReceptor traffickingSingle nucleotide polymorphismSplice variant

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