interaction mechanisms: A mouse model study

P2X7 receptor RAW 264.7 a b s t r a c t In the present study, we analyzed the role of purinergic P2X7 receptor in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and host interaction mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. For experimental procedures, a macrophage murine cell line RAW 264.7, and male Swiss, wild-type C57BL/6 and P2X7 receptor knockout (P2X7R−/−) mice were used throughout this study. We have demonstrated that treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with ATP (3 and 5 mM) resulted in a statistically significant reduction of M. tuberculosis-colony-forming units. The purinergic P2X7 receptor expression was found significantly augmented in the lungs of mice infected with M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Infected wild-type mice showed a marked increase in the spleen weight, in comparison to non-infected animals. Furthermore, M. tuberculosis-infected P2X7R−/− mice showed an increase