P2x7 Receptor Regulates Cell Survival, Inflammation Processes And Proliferation Of Lung Carcinoma Cells

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. There they belong to the malignant neoplasms, these are rapidly proliferating, invasive, metastatic, and mutations accumulate comparatively quickly. The incidence is about 2 million new diseases worldwide. This fact has led to an investigation of purinergic receptors in relation to this disease required. Methods: A lung cancer metastasis model in C57BL/6 mice and P2X7R-/- mice was generated by intravenous injection of LLC cells (5*105 cells in 50µl per mouse). After 21 days BALF was collected and the total number BALF-cells were determined by using a hemocytometer. Paraffin-embedded lungs were histologically examined with hematoxylin and eosin and stained with anti-Ki-67 (proliferation marker) for immunohistochemically analysis. Results: Total cell numbers in BALF were significantly decreased (P2X7-deficient mice). H&E staining confirmed the massive reduction of tumor load in P2X7R-/- mice. Ki-67-positive cells were lower in tumor mice as compared to tumors of WT animals. Conclusion: P2X7R-/- mice revealed a protection against inflammation processes, histological changes and proliferation.