Overview
- Peptide KKGWMDPQSKGIQTGRC, corresponding to amino acid residues 136-152 of mouse P2X7 receptor (Accession Q9Z1M0). Extracellular loop.
- Mouse muscle-myenteric plexus sections (1:100) (Caputi, V. et al. (2017) Front. Pharmacol. 8, 350.).
- Transfected HEK-293 cells (1:25).
- Expression of P2RX7 in HEK-293 transfected cellsCell surface detection of P2RX7 in live intact P2X7-HEK-293 transfected cells. Extracellular staining of cells using Anti-P2X7 Receptor (extracellular)-ATTO Fluor-488 Antibody (#APR-008-AG), (green), (1:25).
The P2X7 receptor is a member of the ionotropic P2X receptor family that is activated by ATP. To date, this family is composed of seven cloned receptor subtypes, named P2X1-P2X7.
The different P2X receptors show distinct expression patterns. P2X1-6 have been found in the central and peripheral nervous system, while the P2X7 receptor is found in cells of the immune system, particularly antigen presenting cells, and microglia. The P2X7 receptor mediates the release of proinflamatory cytokines, stimulation of transcription factors and may also have an important role in apoptosis.1-3
Different techniques have been used to characterize the P2X7 receptor. Most of them investigated pores, ion channels (electrophysiology) and membrane alterations (calcium microfluorometry, dye uptake, membrane depolarization and ion influx analysis). With the introduction of flow cytometry, it is now possible to analyze multiple cell parameters such as cell cycle, cell membrane alteration, calcium influx and cell phenotype.4
Application key:
Species reactivity key:
Expression of P2RX7 in rat colon.Immunohistochemical staining of rat distal colon section using Anti-P2X7 Receptor (extracellular)-ATTO Fluor-488 Antibody (#APR-008-AG). A. P2X7 staining (green) in normal colon sections co-localizes with that of HuC/D (red). B. P2X7 staining in the presence of colitis is detected in the neuromuscular layer and expression of the receptor is increased in myenteric ganglia. TOTO-3 (blue) was used to stain nuclei.Adapted from Antonioli, L. et al. (2014) PLoS One 9, e116253. with kind permission of Dr. Colucci, R. Div. Pharmacology and Chemotherapy, Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa Pisa, Italy.