The role of the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is being explored with intensive interest in the context of normal bone physiology, bone-related diseases and, to an extent, bone cancer. In this review, we cover the current understanding of P2X7R regulation of bone cell formation, function and survival. We will discuss how the P2X7R drives lineage commitment of undifferentiated bone cell progenitors, the vital role of P2X7R activation in bone mineralisation and its relatively unexplored role in osteocyte function. We also review how P2X7R activation is imperative for osteoclast formation and its role in bone resorption via orchestrating osteoclast apoptosis. Variations in the gene for the P2X7R (P2RX7) have implications for P2X7R-mediated processes and we review the relevance of these genetic variations in bone physiology. Finally, we highlight how targeting P2X7R may have therapeutic potential in bone disease and cancer.
Purinergic signallingIn the last four decades, extensive investigations have led to the recognition of ATP from a 'molecular unit of energy' to an extracellular messenger molecule. ATP-sensitive purinoceptors, omnipresent in vertebrate tissues, are involved in a wide variety of physiological roles (Burnstock 2013) and their function has also been demonstrated in invertebrates (Verkhratsky & Burnstock 2014). While they traditionally act as cell surface sensors (Khakh & North 2006), their participation in signalling within the intracellular compartment in mammals (Qureshi et al. 2007, Kuehnel et al. 2009, Stokes & Surprenant 2009, Toulme et al. 2010) and even protozoans (Fountain et al. 2007, Ludlow et al. 2009, Sivaramakrishnan & Fountain 2012 has also been recognised.Purines (adenine, guanine and uridine) can act as signalling molecules in the form of their 5 0 -nucleotide triphosphates (such as ATP, GTP and UTP), diphosphates (ADP), monophosphate (AMP) or as a nucleoside (adenosine). They can activate one or more of the 19 receptors which are sorted into three classes: P1 (nucleoside) receptors; the metabotropic P2Y receptors and the ionotropic P2X, both of which are nucleotide triggered. Recently, a new family of purine receptors, AdeR or P0-receptors, responsive to adenine has been cloned from rodents (Bender et al. 2002, Gorzalka et al. 2005, von Kugelgen et al. 2008, Thimm et al. 2013, although the human homologue is yet to be identified. Structural and stoichiometrical evidence suggests that all P2X receptor (P2XR) subunits trimerise to form functional receptors (Nicke et al. 1998, Barrera et al. 2005, Mio et al. 2005, Kaczmarek-Hajek et al. 2012 with the subunits forming either homomultimers or heteromultimers depending on the subtypes (Burnstock 2007). Each unit comprises two transmembrane domains (TM1 and TM2) with an intervening large extracellular loop and cytoplasmic N-and C-termini, and the primary agonist of all homomeric and heteromeric P2XR is ATP. The current view holds that ligand binding causes reduction in the
Journal of Molecular EndocrinologyReview A AGRAWAL and A GARTLAND P...