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REVIEW article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Pharmacology of Ion Channels and Channelopathies
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1450704

Unlocking the Therapeutic Potential of P2X7 Receptor: A Comprehensive Review of Its Role in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Provisionally accepted
Xiaoming Liu Xiaoming Liu 1Yiwen Li Yiwen Li 1Liting Huang Liting Huang 1Yingyan Kuang Yingyan Kuang 1Xiaoxiong Wu Xiaoxiong Wu 1Xiangqiong Ma Xiangqiong Ma 2Beibei Zhao Beibei Zhao 1Jiao Lan Jiao Lan 1*
  • 1 Baoan District Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
  • 2 Henan Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, zhengzhou, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), an ATP-gated ion channel, has emerged as a crucial player in neuroinflammation and a promising therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders. This review explores the current understanding of P2X7R's structure, activation, and physiological roles, focusing on its expression and function in microglial cells. The article examines the receptor's involvement in calcium signaling, microglial activation, and polarization, as well as its role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The review highlights the complex nature of P2X7R signaling, discussing its potential neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects depending on the disease stage and context. It also addresses the development of P2X7R antagonists and their progress in clinical trials, identifying key research gaps and future perspectives for P2X7R-targeted therapy development. By providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge and future directions, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians interested in exploring the therapeutic potential of targeting P2X7R for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

    Keywords: P2X7R, Neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, Microglia, ATP

    Received: 18 Jun 2024; Accepted: 19 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Liu, Li, Huang, Kuang, Wu, Ma, Zhao and Lan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Jiao Lan, Baoan District Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.