Figure 3. Role of Panx1 channels in cell death.

The opening of Panx1 channels due to the action of caspases 3 and 7 in early apoptosis facilitates the release of ATP and UTP to attract macrophages and monocytes, thereby maintaining cellular integrity and facilitating Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum to induce translocation of cytochrome c into the cytosol. In pyroptosis, ATP release through Panx1 channels activates P2X7 receptors, which underlies the formation of a membrane pore that triggers cytolysis. In autophagy, the presence of Panx1 channels and lysosomal associated membrane protein 1 favor lysosomal binding to the plasma membrane to release ATP and attract macrophages (ATP, adenosine-5´-triphosphate; Panx, pannexin; P2, purinergic receptor; UTP, uridine-5’-triphosphate).