Extracellular ATP may contribute to tissue repair by rapidly stimulating purinergic receptor X7-dependent vascular endothelial growth factor release from primary human monocytes.

Extracellular ATP has been proposed to act as a danger signal to alert the immune system of cell damage. Release of high local concentrations of ATP activates the nucleotide receptor, purinergic receptor X7 (P2RX7), on monocytic cells, which promotes the processing/release of proinflammatory mediators. Although the proinflammatory actions of P2RX7 are well recognized, little is known regarding the potential function of P2RX7 in repair responses. Because the resolution of inflammation is characterized by monocytic cell-dependent production of proangiogenic factors, we evaluated the contribution of P2RX7 to this process. We observed that both short-term and long-term P2RX7 activation promotes the robust release of vascular endothelial growth factor from primary human monocytes. This vascular endothelial growth factor release is calcium dependent and associated with reactive oxygen species production. This previously unrecognized action of P2RX7 suggests that it may not only participate in inflammation and cell death, but that it is also likely to be important in the control of angiogenesis and wound repair.