P2X4 Receptor (D9R1H) Rabbit mAb #70659

P2X purinergic receptors are ATP-gated ion channels involved in physiological processes that include inflammation, afferent sensory signaling, and sympathetic motor nerve activity. Seven different vertebrate genes (P2RX1-P2RX7) encode for individual receptor protein subunits (1). All P2X subunit proteins share similar protein domain structure, but can differ in overall protein length from 384 to 595 amino acids. Each P2X subunit is composed of amino- and carboxy-terminal intracellular domains, two transmembrane domains, and a large extracellular loop that contains ten evenly spaced cysteines and multiple glycosylation sites (2). P2X receptors are found in a variety of cell types and tissues, including central and peripheral nervous system neurons and glial cells, autonomic and sensory neurons, bone, muscle, and hematopoietic tissues (1).
P2X purinoceptor 4 (P2X4) trimers are expressed at the cell surface where they act as ligand-gated ion channels for monovalent and divalent cations (3). P2X4 receptors contribute to regulation of synaptic strength through participation in the formation of long-term potentiation (4,5). Research studies indicate that P2X4 receptor expression may play a role in influencing alcohol-drinking behavior and conferring protection to cardiac myocytes during heart failure (6,7). Additional studies show that microglial P2X4 receptors are upregulated during nerve-injury associated neuropathic pain (8).