Sperlágh Beáta, Vizi E Sylvester, Wirkner Kerstin, Illes Peter
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1450 Budapest, Hungary.
Prog Neurobiol. 2006 Apr;78(6):327-46. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2006.03.007. Epub 2006 May 11.
P2X(7) receptors are ligand-gated ion channels, expressed as homo-oligomeric assemblies of individual subunits. They are widely distributed at immunocompetent cells of the central and peripheral nervous system and are believed to be primarily involved in host-defense reaction. However, a growing amount of evidence indicates that their signaling role in the brain is more widespread than previously anticipated. In this paper, we review the present knowledge on the structural and pharmacological features of the P2X(7) receptor, as well as its cell-type specific localization in the nervous system. Subsequently, the participation of P2X(7) receptors in distinct neuronal, astroglial and microglial functions are described. Finally, since they may play a prominent role in certain neurologic disorders, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury and sensory neuropathies, the pathological role and potential therapeutic exploitation of P2X(7) receptors are also discussed.
P2X(7)受体是配体门控离子通道，由单个亚基的同型寡聚体组装而成。它们广泛分布于中枢和外周神经系统的免疫活性细胞中，被认为主要参与宿主防御反应。然而，越来越多的证据表明，它们在大脑中的信号传导作用比以前预期的更为广泛。在本文中，我们综述了目前关于P2X(7)受体的结构和药理学特征以及其在神经系统中细胞类型特异性定位的知识。随后，描述了P2X(7)受体在不同神经元、星形胶质细胞和小胶质细胞功能中的参与情况。最后，由于它们可能在某些神经系统疾病中起重要作用，如缺血再灌注损伤、阿尔茨海默病、脊髓损伤和感觉神经病变，因此还讨论了P2X(7)受体的病理作用和潜在的治疗应用。
