Dysregulation of the inflammatory response to the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, in P2X7 receptor-deficient mice

► Mice lacking P2X7 receptor function (P2X7R knockout) lost more weight than C57Bl/6J mice (partial P2X7R function) and BALB/c mice (full P2X7R function) after infection with Toxoplasma. ► Absence of the P2X7R did not affect IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-1β or TNF production. ► P2X7R knockout mice had prolonged production of nitric oxide after infection with Toxoplasma. ► P2X7R knockout mice had delayed production of IL-10 after infection with Toxoplasma.