However, Hofman and his team suggest that in the treatment of IBD with P2X7 receptor antagonists, it limits intestinal inflammation and promotes the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells, which protects intestinal epithelial cells from apoptosis, besides, it increases the risk of colitis-associated cancer (CAC; Hofman et al., 2015). Here, P2RX7 is linked to irritable bowel syndrome.