Pannexin 1 (PANX1) interacts with purinergic receptors through regulating immune responses, releasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and the NLRP3/caspase-1/interleukin (IL)-1β signaling pathway, then influences the activation of immune cells and promotes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus causing inflammation and tissue damage which exacerbates infection. This research group has synthesized new polypeptides named QE20 and EE20, which can specifically inhibit the opening of PANX1 channels under inflammatory stimulation, offering advantages such as reducing cellular ATP release, inhibiting inflammatory factor secretion, and preventing hepatocyte pyroptosis, et al. This review summarizes the roles and mechanisms of PANX1 in various infectious diseases, and predicts the feasibility of PANX1 as a potential therapeutic target in the future.