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Review
. 2017 Jul 26;37(30):7063-7072.
doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3104-16.2017.

Neuronal P2X7 Receptor: Involvement in Neuronal Physiology and Pathology

M Teresa Miras-Portugal  1 , Álvaro Sebastián-Serrano  1   2 , Laura de Diego García  1   2 , Miguel Díaz-Hernández  3   2
Affiliations
Review

Neuronal P2X7 Receptor: Involvement in Neuronal Physiology and Pathology

M Teresa Miras-Portugal et al. J Neurosci. .

Abstract

The proposed presence of P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) in neurons has been the source of some contention. Initial studies suggested an absence of P2X7R mRNA in neurons, and the apparent nonspecificity of the antibodies used to identify P2X7R raised further doubts. However, subsequent studies using new pharmacological and biomolecular tools provided conclusive evidence supporting the existence of functional P2X7Rs in neurons. The P2X7 receptor has since been shown to play a leading role in multiple aspects of neuronal physiology, including axonal elongation and branching and neurotransmitter release. P2X7R has also been implicated in neuronal pathologies, in which it may influence neuronal survival. Together, this body of research suggests that P2X7R may constitute an important therapeutic target for a variety of neurological disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Schematic illustration summarizing the initial controversy regarding the presence of P2X7R in neurons.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Schematic illustration summarizing the role that P2X7R plays in neuronal physiology.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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