Expression of the ATP-gated P2X(7) Receptor on M Cells and Its Modulating Role in the Mucosal Immune Environment

Interactions between microbes and epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal tract are closely associated with regulation of intestinal mucosal immune responses. Recent studies have highlighted the modulation of mucosal immunity by microbe-derived molecules such as ATP and short-chain fatty acids. In this study, we undertook to characterize the expression of the ATP-gated P2X(7) receptor (P2X(7)R) on M cells and its role in gastrointestinal mucosal immune regulation because it was poorly characterized in Peyer's patches, although purinergic signaling via P2X(7)R and luminal ATP have been considered to play an important role in the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we present the first report on the expression of P2X(7)R on M cells and characterize the role of P2X(7)R in immune enhancement by ATP or LL-37.