Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment
08:36

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment

Published on: April 19, 2024

1.2K

P2X4 receptor controls microglia activation and favors remyelination in autoimmune encephalitis

Alazne Zabala1, Nuria Vazquez-Villoldo1, Björn Rissiek2

  • 1Achucarro Basque Center for Neurosciences, CIBERNED and Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco, Leioa, Spain.

EMBO Molecular Medicine
|July 6, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Purinergic receptor P2X4 (P2X4R) plays a crucial role in regulating microglia responses during autoimmune inflammation. Modulating P2X4R with ivermectin promotes myelin repair and reduces disease severity in models of neuroinflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Microglia are key immune cells in the central nervous system, essential for inflammation and repair.
  • Understanding microglia's role in pathology is vital for developing regenerative strategies.
  • Purinergic receptor P2X4 (P2X4R) is implicated in immune cell function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of P2X4R in microglia/macrophages during autoimmune inflammation.
  • To evaluate the therapeutic potential of P2X4R modulation in demyelinating diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model for autoimmune inflammation.
  • Lysolecithin-induced demyelination model for myelin repair assessment.
  • In vitro studies on oligodendrocyte differentiation.

Main Results:

  • P2X4R blockade worsened EAE, promoted pro-inflammatory microglia, and inhibited myelin phagocytosis.
  • P2X4R blockade halted oligodendrocyte differentiation and remyelination.
  • Ivermectin (IVM) treatment shifted microglia to an anti-inflammatory phenotype, enhanced myelin phagocytosis, and promoted remyelination, ameliorating EAE.
  • IVM treatment promoted remyelination in the lysolecithin model.

Conclusions:

  • P2X4R signaling critically modulates microglia/macrophage responses in neuroinflammation.
  • Ivermectin (IVM) emerges as a potential therapeutic agent for promoting myelin repair and treating demyelinating conditions.
Keywords:
P2X4 receptormicrogliamyelin phagocytosisremyelination

More Related Videos

Hippocampal Neuronal Cultures to Detect and Study New Pathogenic Antibodies Involved in Autoimmune Encephalitis08:20

Hippocampal Neuronal Cultures to Detect and Study New Pathogenic Antibodies Involved in Autoimmune Encephalitis

Published on: June 2, 2022

3.9K
High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity12:02

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity

Published on: June 2, 2014

13.0K

Related Concept Videos

Gibbs Free Energy and Thermodynamic Favorability02:23

Gibbs Free Energy and Thermodynamic Favorability

The spontaneity of a process depends upon the temperature of the system. Phase transitions, for example, will proceed spontaneously in one direction or the other depending upon the temperature of the substance in question. Likewise, some chemical reactions can also exhibit temperature-dependent spontaneities. To illustrate this concept, the equation relating free energy change to the enthalpy and entropy changes for the process is considered:
8.3K
Internal Receptors01:31

Internal Receptors

Many cellular signals are hydrophilic and therefore cannot pass through the plasma membrane. However, small or hydrophobic signaling molecules can cross the hydrophobic core of the plasma membrane and bind to internal, or intracellular, receptors that reside within the cell. Many mammalian steroid hormones use this mechanism of cell signaling, as does nitric oxide (NO) gas.
74.7K
Autoimmune Disorders01:29

Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells, tissues, and organs. This results from an overactive immune response against substances and tissues normally present in the body. Let's delve into the concept and mechanism of autoimmune diseases from an immune system point of view, explore different causes and examples of such diseases, and discuss potential solutions.
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune...
1.8K
Enzyme-linked Receptors01:00

Enzyme-linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are proteins that act as both receptor and enzyme, activating multiple intracellular signals. This is a large group of receptors that include the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Many growth factors and hormones bind to and activate the RTKs.
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
86.7K
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis01:39

Receptor-mediated Endocytosis

Overview
111.1K
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
132.1K