Pharmacology of Adenosine Receptors: The State of the Art

Physiol Rev. 2018 Jul 1;98(3):1591-1625. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00049.2017.

Abstract

Adenosine is a ubiquitous endogenous autacoid whose effects are triggered through the enrollment of four G protein-coupled receptors: A1, A2A, A2B, and A3. Due to the rapid generation of adenosine from cellular metabolism, and the widespread distribution of its receptor subtypes in almost all organs and tissues, this nucleoside induces a multitude of physiopathological effects, regulating central nervous, cardiovascular, peripheral, and immune systems. It is becoming clear that the expression patterns of adenosine receptors vary among cell types, lending weight to the idea that they may be both markers of pathologies and useful targets for novel drugs. This review offers an overview of current knowledge on adenosine receptors, including their characteristic structural features, molecular interactions and cellular functions, as well as their essential roles in pain, cancer, and neurodegenerative, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases. Finally, we highlight the latest findings on molecules capable of targeting adenosine receptors and report which stage of drug development they have reached.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Nervous System Diseases / metabolism
  • Purinergic P1 Receptor Agonists
  • Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Receptors, Purinergic P1 / chemistry
  • Receptors, Purinergic P1 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Purinergic P1 Receptor Agonists
  • Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Receptors, Purinergic P1
  • Adenosine