von Mücke-Heim, I.A.* ; Oldekamp, J.* ; Metzger, M.W.* ; Kläffgen, S.* ; Tang, H.* ; Walser, S.M.* ; Dedic, N.* ; Rammes, G.* ; Holsboer, F.* ; Wurst, W. ; Deussing, J.M.*
Establishment and behavioural characterization of a novel constitutive P2X7 receptor knockout mouse line.
Purinergic Signal. 21, 1077-1092 (2025)
The P2X7 receptor is an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-gated ion channel expressed in different cell types of the brain. Polymorphisms in the P2RX7 gene have repeatedly been associated with psychiatric disorders including major depression. Depression is a stress-related disorder in which a dysregulation of the immune system has attracted increasing attention as a potential disease mechanism. The well-documented role of P2X7 in inflammatory conditions advocates its involvement in immune system dysregulation and depression genesis. However, understanding its exact role requires further research using appropriate animal models. Unfortunately, some of the most widely used P2X7 knockout mouse models are limited in their utility by the continuous expression of certain P2rx7 splice variants or even activation of de novo transcripts. To overcome this limitation, we generated a novel constitutive and complete P2X7 KO mouse line. These KO mice lack all known murine splice variants and protein expression resulting in a loss-of-function as confirmed by calcium imaging and by the inability of P2X7-deficient peritoneal macrophages to mount an appropriate interleukin (IL)-1β response. Comprehensive characterization using a battery of tests assessing locomotion, anxiety- and depression-related as well as social behaviour revealed differences in locomotor and exploratory behaviours. P2X7 KO mice showed slightly increased locomotor activity and reduced anxiety-related behaviour at baseline. Under conditions of chronic stress exposure, genotype-dependent differences largely dissolved while P2X7 deficiency promoted enhanced stress resilience with regard to social behaviour. Taken together, our findings add further evidence for an involvement of the P2X7 in shaping different behavioural responses and their modulation by stressful environments. This novel loss-of-function model will contribute to a better understanding of P2X7 in stress-associated behaviours in basic and translational neuropsychiatric research.
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Publikationstyp
Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Typ der Hochschulschrift
Herausgeber
Schlagwörter
Behaviour ; Knockout Mice ; P2x7 Receptor ; P2rx7 Gene ; Purinergic; Gene-expression; Cutting Edge; Cells; P2rx7; Mice; Inflammasome; Mechanisms; Depression; Adenosine; Diseases
Keywords plus
Sprache
englisch
Veröffentlichungsjahr
2025
Prepublished im Jahr
0
HGF-Berichtsjahr
2025
ISSN (print) / ISBN
1573-9538
e-ISSN
1573-9546
ISBN
Bandtitel
Konferenztitel
Konferzenzdatum
Konferenzort
Konferenzband
Quellenangaben
Band: 21,
Heft: 5,
Seiten: 1077-1092
Artikelnummer: ,
Supplement: ,
Reihe
Verlag
Springer
Verlagsort
Dordrecht
Tag d. mündl. Prüfung
0000-00-00
Betreuer
Gutachter
Prüfer
Topic
Hochschule
Hochschulort
Fakultät
Veröffentlichungsdatum
0000-00-00
Anmeldedatum
0000-00-00
Anmelder/Inhaber
weitere Inhaber
Anmeldeland
Priorität
Begutachtungsstatus
Peer reviewed
POF Topic(s)
30204 - Cell Programming and Repair
Forschungsfeld(er)
Genetics and Epidemiology
PSP-Element(e)
G-500500-001
Förderungen
International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP)
Else-Kroener-Fresenius Foundation
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Marie Sklodowska-Curie innovative training network PurinesDX
Projekt DEAL
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2025-04-30