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P2X7 as a scavenger receptor for innate phagocytosis in the brain
Author(s) -
Gu Ben J,
Wiley James S
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/bph.14470
Subject(s) - phagocytosis , scavenger receptor , microglia , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , innate immune system , biology , myosin , inflammation , immunology , neuroscience , biochemistry , lipoprotein , cholesterol
The P2X7 receptor has been widely studied for its ATP‐induced pro‐inflammatory effect, but in the absence of a ligand, P2X7 has a second function as a scavenger receptor, which is active in the development of the human brain. The scavenger activity of P2X7 is only evident in the absence of serum but is fully active in cerebrospinal fluid. P2X7 on the cell surface is present as a membrane complex, and an attachment to non‐muscle myosin of the cytoskeleton is required for particle engulfment. Selective antagonists of P2X7 pro‐inflammatory function have little effect on phagocytosis, but inheritance of a variant haplotype spanning the P2RX7 and P2RX4 genes has been associated with loss of P2X7‐mediated phagocytosis. Recent studies in mice suggest that the innate phagocytosis mediated by P2X7 receptors declines with ageing. Thus, defective P2X7‐mediated phagocytosis may contribute to age‐related neuro‐degenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, age‐related macular degeneration and primary progressive multiple sclerosis.