New insights into pathogenisis and therapies of P2X7R in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD), a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, is linked to genetics and environment, but its mechanisms remain unclear. Emerging evidence connects purinergic signaling-particularly ATP-sensitive P2X7 receptor (P2X7R)-to PD. P2X7R expression is elevated in PD patients, and its antagonist BBG mitigates 6-OHDA-induced dopaminergic neuron death. This review discusses P2X7R’s structure, neural functions, PD-related mechanisms, and therapeutic potential as a targert.