The P2X7 receptor modulates immune cells infiltration, ectonucleotidases expression and extracellular ATP levels in the tumor microenvironment.

ABSTRACT: In the tumor microenvironment (TME) ATP and its receptor P2X7 exert a pivotal influence on cancer growth and tumor-host interactions. Here we analyzed the different effect of P2X7 genetic deficiency versus its antagonism on response against P2X7-expressing implanted tumors. We focused on immune cell expression of ATP degrading enzymes CD39 and CD73 and in vivo measured TME's ATP. The immune infiltrate of tumors growing in P2X7 null mice shows a decrease in CD8⁺ cells and an increased number of Tregs, overexpressing the fitness markers OX40, PD-1, and CD73. A similar Treg phenotype is also present in the spleen of tumor-bearing P2X7 null mice and it is paralleled by a decrease in proinflammatory cytokines and an increase in TGF-β. Differently, systemic administration of the P2X7

SUBMITTER: De Marchi E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6756114 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature