Immune Response Studies Based on P2X7 Receptors: A Mini-Review

Inflammation, as a complex immunopathological process, is the organism's natural defense response against harmful, foreign, and destructive immune or non-immune factors. It is the main pathological form of various diseases, such as tumors, neurodegenerative diseases, periodontitis, alcoholic steatohepatitis, asthma, and other diseases. The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is widely distributed in vivo and up-regulated in various inflammatory pathological states. Studies have shown that milder chronic inflammation is related to a deficiency or inhibition of P2X7R, which is an indispensable part of the pro-inflammatory mechanism in vivo. P2X7R, a unique subtype of seven purinergic P2X receptors, is an ATP-gated non-selective cationic channel. P2X7R will promote the influx of Ca²⁺ and the outflow of K+ after being stimulated. The influx of Ca²⁺ is essential for activating the body's innate immune response and inducing the production of inflammatory factors. This paper reviews the regulation of P2X7R in inflammation from the perspectives of innate immunity and adaptive immunity.