The Progress of P2X7 Receptor in Psychiatric Disorders

Yang Jing¹, Liu Rongjun¹, Lu Fan¹, Fu Yanlu¹, Hu Lingjie¹, Chen Junping²*, Chen Xiaowei¹*

(¹The Medical School of Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo 315211, China; ²Department of Anesthesiology, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, Ningbo 315000, China)

Abstract:

The P2X7 receptor is a trimeric adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-gated non-selective cation channel and is expressed predominantly in immune cells and glial cells in the nervous systems. Activation of P2X7 channel is correlated with the inflammatory reactions, immune responses and cell apoptosis. Recently, it has been reported that the P2X7 receptor contributes to the pathogenesis of various psychiatric disorders. The mechanisms may involve genesis of neuroinflammation, alteration of neural plasticity, cell apoptosis and abnormal releases of neurotransmitters in the nervous system. The studies indicate that the P2X7 receptor could be a potential target of novel interventions of psychiatric disorders. This review summarizes recent progress of the P2X7 receptor in several prevalent mental disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2019.04.0028