P5P can be used as effective treatments for the modulation of P2X7, IL-1β, and inflammation response, and for diseases in which prevention of P2X7-dependent pathways or prevention of release of IL-1β is desirable, such as epithelial cancer, leukemia, brain tumors, spinal cord injury, tuberculosis, Alzheimer's Disease, neurodegenerative diseases, autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, diabetes, including type I diabetes, prostate cancer, and osteoporosis, bone formation and resorption.