To sum up, purinergic receptor inhibition, especially P2X7 receptor blockade, ameliorates liver fibrosis, mesenteric angiogenesis, severity of portal-systemic shunting, and improves the portal-systemic collateral vascular responsiveness in cirrhotic rats, suggesting the potential of purinergic receptor antagonism in controlling liver cirrhosis-related complications. Here, P2RX7 is linked to cirrhosis of liver.