P2RX7 receptor: the re-discovered therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases and cancer

Project Details

Description

Inflammation is an important body’s response to damage, also prerequisite to repair. However, uncontrolled inflammation causes tissue damage itself and inflammatory diseases are common and devastating. Moreover, chronic inflammation promotes cancer growth and spread. Therefore, we need treatments that stop excessive inflammation. A specific receptor, called P2X7, starts inflammation. We did not understand why P2X7 activation sometimes causes excessive inflammation while in other cases, it is kept in check. We now have evidence that prolonged activation of P2X7 causes release of enzymes degrading extracellular proteins and one such enzyme can degrade the very P2X7 receptor and stop its further activity. However, these enzymes can also contribute to the spread of the inflammatory process. P2X7 can both cause the release and be present in cell membrane-derived microvescicles that spread inflammation away from the original site. This project aims to establish what is the relationship between microvesicles production, the release of their content (which include the enzyme that degrades the receptor) and the effects of these microvesicles in the spreading of inflammation.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/03/1830/03/22

Funding

  • The Royal Society: £11,920.00

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