Role of P2X7 receptors in ischemic and excitotoxic brain injury in vivo

Purinergic P2X7 receptors may affect neuronal cell death through their ability to regulate the processing and release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a key mediator in neurodegeneration. The authors tested the hypothesis that ATP, acting at P2X7 receptors, contributes to experimentally induced neuronal death in rodents in vivo. Deletion of P2X7 receptors (P2X7 knockout mice) did not affect cell death induced by temporary cerebral ischemia, which was reduced by treatment with IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-IRA). Treatment of mice with P2X antagonists did not affect ischemic or excitotoxic cell death, suggesting that P2X7 receptors are not primary mediators of experimentally induced neuronal death.