We previously showed that the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R or P2RX7) is overexpressed in circulating lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients.
A P2X7 receptor gene polymorphism 1513 A-->C has recently been suggested as playing a role in the pathogenesis and disease progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, although several studies have failed to show any effect of the polymorphism.
A meta-analysis of this study and five other smaller published studies provides no evidence of relationship between this P2X7 polymorphism and risk of CLL (odds ratio = 0.99, 95% confidence interval: 0.74-1.32).
These results indicate that the 1513 A-->C polymorphism of the P2X7 gene is unlikely to play a significant role in the pathogenesis or disease progression of B-CLL.
We investigated tumour DNA in 170 patients with CLL using PCR-RFLP analysis with HhaI restriction enzyme cleavage to screen for the polymorphism in the P2X7 receptor gene.
Activation of the P2X7 receptor leads to apoptosis of lymphocytes in individuals with CLL, and reduced function of this receptor has an anti-apoptotic effect, resulting in an increase in B-cell numbers.
Activation of the P2X7 receptor leads to apoptosis of lymphocytes in individuals with CLL, and reduced function of this receptor has an anti-apoptotic effect, resulting in an increase in B-cell numbers.
We investigated tumour DNA in 170 patients with CLL using PCR-RFLP analysis with HhaI restriction enzyme cleavage to screen for the polymorphism in the P2X7 receptor gene.