P2X7受体为胞外ATP激活的非选择性阳离子通道,并能触发白介素-1β、白介素-18、肿瘤坏死因子和一氧化氮等前炎性物质的释放。临床研究表明,P2X7受体参与炎症和疼痛机制,调节P2X7受体功能的化合物,具有潜在的新抗炎药物的作用。因此,P2X7受体在炎症和疼痛中发挥重要的生理作用及潜在的临床应用,成为疼痛治疗的药物作用新靶点。
The P2X7 receptor (P2X7 R)is a nonselective cation channel activated by extracellular ATP,and it may trigger the se-cretion of several proinflammatory substances,such as IL-1β, IL-18,TNF-α,and nitric oxide.Several preclinical studies have demonstrated that this receptor participates in inflammation and pain mechanisms,and compounds that modulate the function of this receptor show potential as new anti-inflammatory medicines. Therefore,P2X7 receptors play particularly important physiologi-cal roles and have potential clinical application in inflammation and pain,which proves it a therapeutic target for pain manage-ment.