Detection of P2X purinergic receptors on human B lymphocytes

B lymphocytes are known to synthesise the P2X(7) subtype of the P2X purinergic receptor family; however, the identification of the other six P2X subtypes on these cells has been limited by the absence of specific antibodies. In this study, we used a panel of anti-P2X polyclonal antibodies and confocal microscopy to examine the presence of each P2X receptor on human B lymphocytes. We observed that P2X(1), P2X(2), P2X(4) and P2X(7) subtypes, but not P2X(3), P2X(5) and P2X(6) subtypes, are present on B lymphocytes.