P2X4 receptors expressed on microglial cells in post-ischemic inflammation of brain ischemic injury

•P2X4 receptors on microglia are associated with brain post-ischemic inflammation.•Microglia mediated brain ischemia via ATP signaling on P2X4 purinergic receptors.•ATP activates P2X4 receptors on microglia to affect activation of microglia.•P2X4 receptors signaling lead to secrete proinflammatory and neurotoxic mediators.

Post-ischemic inflammation is an essential step in the progression of brain ischemia injury. P2X4 receptors are the predominant purinergic P2X receptor subtypes expressed on immune and neural cells. The subtype traffic between intracellular compartments and the plasma membrane form protein interactions with each other to regulate ATP-dependent signaling. The P2X4 receptors expressed on microglial cells have been reported to be involved in the inflammatory response of many central nervous system diseases. However, the mechanism that activates microglial cells and the role of P2X4 receptor expressed in microglial cells in the ischemic brain remains to be clarified. Here we provide a review for understanding and exploring converging lines of evidence for involvement of P2X4 receptors expressed on microglial cells in the post-ischemic inflammation in the brain ischemic injury.