Characterization of P2X3 receptors using QPatch

P2X receptors are ligand-gated ion channels (LGIC’s) with time constants of 10-200 ms for activation and 100-200 ms for desensitization (1). The fast kinetics presents a challenge for patch clamp recordings of physiologically realistic P2X receptor currents, and a fast solution exchange technique is required.
This report presents a pharmacological characterization of one of the fastest P2X receptors, the P2X3 receptor, based on perforated patch whole-cell currents from a rat lung epithelial (RLE) cell line stably expressing the human P2X3 receptor. All measurements were recorded with using QPatch.

The P2X3 receptor was targeted with:

-Agonists: CTP (cytidine triphosphate) αβ-me-ATP (α,β-methylene adenosine triphosphate)

-Antagonist: TNP-ATP (trinitrophenyl adenosine triphosphate)