Detection of P2X purinergic receptors on human B lymphocytes

Abstract.

B lymphocytes are known to synthesise the P2X₇ subtype of the P2X purinergic receptor family; however, the identification of the other six P2X subtypes on these cells has been limited by the absence of specific antibodies. In this study, we used a panel of anti-P2X polyclonal antibodies and confocal microscopy to examine the presence of each P2X receptor on human B lymphocytes. We observed that P2X₁, P2X₂, P2X₄ and P2X₇ subtypes, but not P2X₃, P2X₅ and P2X₆ subtypes, are present on B lymphocytes.