The P2X7 Receptor in Inflammation and Disease

P2X7 is an adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP)-gated ion channel that plays many roles in health and disease. P2X7 is present on various cell types, including most immune cells, and its activation on these cells promotes inflammatory and immune responses. As such, P2X7 presents a potential therapeutic target for multiple inflammatory disorders including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Therefore, the general aim of this thesis was to investigate P2X7 as a therapeutic target in mouse models of these disorders.