Human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 expresses endogenous A2B adenosine receptors mediating a Ca2+ signal

Recent improvements in the development of A(2B) adenosine receptor agonists

Adenosine is known to exert most of its physiological functions by acting as local modulator at four receptor subtypes named A(1), A(2A), A(2B) and A(3) (ARs). Principally as a result of the difficulty in identifying potent and selective agonists, the A(2B) AR is the least extensively characterised of the adenosine receptors family. Despite these limitations, growing understanding of the physiological meaning of this target indicates promising therapeutic perspectives for specific ligands. As A(2B) AR signalling seems to be associated with pre/postconditioning cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, selective agonists may represent a new therapeutic group for patients suffering from coronary artery disease. Herein we present an overview of the recent advancements in identifying potent and selective A(2B) AR agonists reported in scientific and patent literature. These compounds can be classified into adenosine-like and nonadenosine ligands. Nucleoside-based agonists are the result of modifying adenosine by substitution at the N (6)-, C(2)-positions of the purine heterocycle and/or at the 5'-position of the ribose moiety or combinations of these substitutions. Compounds 1-deoxy-1-{6-[N'-(furan-2-carbonyl)-hydrazino]-9H-purin-9-yl}-N-ethyl-beta-D-ribofuranuronamide (19, hA(1) K (i) = 1050 nM, hA(2A) K (i) = 1550 nM, hA(2B) EC(50) = 82 nM, hA(3) K (i) > 5 muM) and its 2-chloro analogue 23 (hA(1) K (i) = 3500 nM, hA(2A) K (i) = 4950 nM, hA(2B) EC(50) = 210 nM, hA(3) K (i) > 5 muM) were confirmed to be potent and selective full agonists in a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) functional assay in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing hA(2B) AR. Nonribose ligands are represented by conveniently substituted dicarbonitrilepyridines, among which 2-[6-amino-3,5-dicyano-4-[4-(cyclopropylmethoxy)phenyl]pyridin-2-ylsulfanyl]acetamide (BAY-60-6583, hA(1), hA(2A), hA(3) EC(50) > 10 muM; hA(2B) EC(50) = 3 nM) is currently under preclinical-phase investigation for treating coronary artery disorders and atherosclerosis.

Host A(2B) adenosine receptors promote carcinoma growth

Recent studies suggest that tumor-infiltrating immune cells can benefit the tumor by producing factors that promote angiogenesis and suppress immunity. Because the tumor microenvironment is characterized by high adenosine levels, we hypothesized that the low-affinity A(2B) adenosine receptor located on host immune cells may participate in these effects. In the current study, we tested this hypothesis in a Lewis lung carcinoma isograft model using A(2B) receptor knockout (A(2B)KO) mice. These mice exhibited significantly attenuated tumor growth and longer survival times after inoculation with Lewis lung carcinoma compared to wild type (WT) controls. Lewis lung carcinoma tumors in A(2B)KO mice contained significantly lower levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) compared to tumors growing in WT animals. This difference was due to VEGF production by host cells, which comprised 30 +/- 2% of total tumor cell population. Stimulation of adenosine receptors on WT tumor-infiltrating CD45+ immune cells increased VEGF production fivefold, an effect not seen in tumor-associated CD45+ immune cells lacking A(2B) receptors. In contrast, we found no significant difference in VEGF production between CD45- tumor cells isolated from WT and A(2B)KO mice. Thus, our data suggest that tumor cells promote their growth by exploiting A(2B) adenosine receptor-dependent regulation of VEGF in host immune cells.

Adenosine receptors in wound healing, fibrosis and angiogenesis

Wound healing and tissue repair are critical processes, and adenosine, released from injured or ischemic tissues, plays an important role in promoting wound healing and tissue repair. Recent studies in genetically manipulated mice demonstrate that adenosine receptors are required for appropriate granulation tissue formation and in adequate wound healing. A(2A) and A(2B) adenosine receptors stimulate both of the critical functions in granulation tissue formation (i.e., new matrix production and angiogenesis), and the A(1) adenosine receptor (AR) may also contribute to new vessel formation. The effects of adenosine acting on these receptors is both direct and indirect, as AR activation suppresses antiangiogenic factor production by endothelial cells, promotes endothelial cell proliferation, and stimulates angiogenic factor production by endothelial cells and other cells present in the wound. Similarly, adenosine, acting at its receptors, stimulates collagen matrix formation directly. Like many other biological processes, AR-mediated promotion of tissue repair is critical for appropriate wound healing but may also contribute to pathogenic processes. Excessive tissue repair can lead to problems such as scarring and organ fibrosis and adenosine, and its receptors play a role in pathologic fibrosis as well. Here we review the evidence for the involvement of adenosine and its receptors in wound healing, tissue repair and fibrosis.

Adenosine receptors and cancer

The A(1), A(2A), A(2B) and A(3) G-protein-coupled cell surface adenosine receptors (ARs) are found to be upregulated in various tumor cells. Activation of the receptors by specific ligands, agonists or antagonists, modulates tumor growth via a range of signaling pathways. The A(1)AR was found to play a role in preventing the development of glioblastomas. This antitumor effect of the A(1)AR is mediated via tumor-associated microglial cells. Activation of the A(2A)AR results in inhibition of the immune response to tumors via suppression of T regulatory cell function and inhibition of natural killer cell cytotoxicity and tumor-specific CD4+/CD8+ activity. Therefore, it is suggested that pharmacological inhibition of A(2A)AR activation by specific antagonists may enhance immunotherapeutics in cancer therapy. Activation of the A(2B)AR plays a role in the development of tumors via upregulation of the expression levels of angiogenic factors in microvascular endothelial cells. In contrast, it was evident that activation of A(2B)AR results in inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and MAP kinase activity, which are involved in tumor cell growth signals. Finally, A(3)AR was found to be highly expressed in tumor cells and tissues while low expression levels were noted in normal cells or adjacent tissue. Receptor expression in the tumor tissues was directly correlated to disease severity. The high receptor expression in the tumors was attributed to overexpression of NF-kappaB, known to act as an A(3)AR transcription factor. Interestingly, high A(3)AR expression levels were found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from tumor-bearing animals and cancer patients, reflecting receptor status in the tumors. A(3)AR agonists were found to induce tumor growth inhibition, both in vitro and in vivo, via modulation of the Wnt and the NF-kappaB signaling pathways. Taken together, A(3)ARs that are abundantly expressed in tumor cells may be targeted by specific A(3)AR agonists, leading to tumor growth inhibition. The unique characteristics of these A(3)AR agonists make them attractive as drug candidates.

Recent improvements in the development of A(2B) adenosine receptor agonists

Adenosine is known to exert most of its physiological functions by acting as local modulator at four receptor subtypes named A(1), A(2A), A(2B) and A(3) (ARs). Principally as a result of the difficulty in identifying potent and selective agonists, the A(2B) AR is the least extensively characterised of the adenosine receptors family. Despite these limitations, growing understanding of the physiological meaning of this target indicates promising therapeutic perspectives for specific ligands. As A(2B) AR signalling seems to be associated with pre/postconditioning cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, selective agonists may represent a new therapeutic group for patients suffering from coronary artery disease. Herein we present an overview of the recent advancements in identifying potent and selective A(2B) AR agonists reported in scientific and patent literature. These compounds can be classified into adenosine-like and nonadenosine ligands. Nucleoside-based agonists are the result of modifying adenosine by substitution at the N (6)-, C(2)-positions of the purine heterocycle and/or at the 5'-position of the ribose moiety or combinations of these substitutions. Compounds 1-deoxy-1-{6-[N'-(furan-2-carbonyl)-hydrazino]-9H-purin-9-yl}-N-ethyl-beta-D-ribofuranuronamide (19, hA(1) K (i) = 1050 nM, hA(2A) K (i) = 1550 nM, hA(2B) EC(50) = 82 nM, hA(3) K (i) > 5 muM) and its 2-chloro analogue 23 (hA(1) K (i) = 3500 nM, hA(2A) K (i) = 4950 nM, hA(2B) EC(50) = 210 nM, hA(3) K (i) > 5 muM) were confirmed to be potent and selective full agonists in a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) functional assay in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing hA(2B) AR. Nonribose ligands are represented by conveniently substituted dicarbonitrilepyridines, among which 2-[6-amino-3,5-dicyano-4-[4-(cyclopropylmethoxy)phenyl]pyridin-2-ylsulfanyl]acetamide (BAY-60-6583, hA(1), hA(2A), hA(3) EC(50) > 10 muM; hA(2B) EC(50) = 3 nM) is currently under preclinical-phase investigation for treating coronary artery disorders and atherosclerosis.

Ecto-5'-nucleotidase promotes invasion, migration and adhesion of human breast cancer cells

PURPOSE

Associated with many molecules, metastasis includes cell adhesion to extracellular matrix, migration towards specific direction and invasion into local vessel of distant organs. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of ecto-5'-nucleotidase (eN, ecto-5-NT, CD73) generated extracellular adenosine in biologically malignant behaviors of human breast cancer cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two human breast cancer cell lines, T-47D with lower expression of CD73 and MB-MDA-231 with higher expression of CD73, were used to investigate the functions of CD73. The effects of CD73 over-expression on invasion, migration and adhesion were observed in T-47D transfected with pcDNA-NT5E plasmid. The effects of specific CD73 inhibitor, alpha, ss-methylene ADP (APCP), were observed in MB-MDA-231 cells.

RESULTS

The results showed CD-73 overexpression increased invasion, migration and adhesion to ECM of the pcDNA-NT5E transfected T-47D cells compared to the saline and mock vector controls. The increased cell mobility of CD-73-overexpressed T-47D cells was blocked by APCP. Adenosine increased the mobility of wild type T-47D cells. APCP inhibited the mobility of the MB-MDA-231 cells.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our results indicated that CD73 may facilitate the adhesion, migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells through its enzyme activity of generating adenosine. This study provided a possibly molecular mechanism of metastasis of breast carcinoma.

N(6)-[(hetero)aryl/(cyclo)alkyl-carbamoyl-methoxy-phenyl]-(2-chloro)-5'-N-ethylcarboxamido-adenosines: the first example of adenosine-related structures with potent agonist activity at the human A(2B) adenosine receptor

A new series of N(6)-[(hetero)aryl/(cyclo)alkyl-carbamoyl-methoxy-phenyl]-(2-chloro)-5'-N-ethylcarboxamido-adenosines (24-43) has been synthesised and tested in binding assays at hA(1), hA(2A) and hA(3) adenosine receptors, and in a functional assay at the hA(2B) subtype. The examined compounds displayed high potency in activating A(2B) receptors with good selectivity versus A(2A) subtypes. The introduction of an unsubstituted 4-[(phenylcarbamoyl)-methoxy]-phenyl chain at the N(6) position of 5'-N-ethylcarboxamido-adenosine led us to the recognition of compound 24 as a full agonist displaying the highest efficacy of the series (EC(50) hA(2B)=7.3 nM). These compounds represent the first report about adenosine-related structures capable of activating hA(2B) subtype in the low nanomolar range.

Osmoregulation of taurine efflux from cultured human breast cancer cells: comparison with volume activated Cl- efflux and regulation by extracellular ATP

The properties and regulation of volume-activated taurine efflux from MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells have been investigated. Volume-activated taurine release from both cell lines was almost completely inhibited by diidosalicylate. DIDS , was more effective at inhibiting swelling-induced taurine release from MCF-7 than from MDA-MB-231 cells. On the basis of comparing taurine, Cl(-) and I(-) efflux time courses, it appears that volume-activated taurine efflux does not utilize volume-sensitive anion channels in MDA-MB- 231 and MCF-7 cells. Extracellular ATP stimulated volume-activated taurine release from MDA-MB-231 cells but not from MCF-7 cells. The effect of ATP was mimicked by UTP and was dependent upon external calcium and inhibited by suramin. However, suramin inhibited volume-activated taurine efflux from both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells even in the absence of exogenously added ATP suggesting that it acts directly on the taurine efflux pathway and/or is inhibiting the effect of ATP released from the cells. Volume-activated taurine efflux from MDA-MB-231 cells was stimulated by ionomycin. In contrast, ionomycin had no effect on taurine release from MCF-7 cells. Adenosine also stimulated volume-activated taurine efflux from MDA-MB-231 cells. The results suggest that purines regulate taurine transport in MDA-MB- 231 cells via more than one type of receptor.

Novel selective antagonist radioligands for the pharmacological study of A(2B) adenosine receptors

The adenosine A_2B receptor is the least well characterized of the four adenosine subtypes due to the lack of potent and selective agonists and antagonists. Despite the widespread distribution of A_2B receptor mRNA, little information is available with regard to their function. The characterization of A_2B receptors, through radioligand binding studies, has been performed, until now, by using low-affinity and non-selective antagonists like 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine ([³H]DPCPX),(4-(2-[7-amino-2-(2-furyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo-[2,3-a][1,3,5]triazin-5-ylamino]ethyl)-phenol ([³H]ZM 241385) and 3-(3,4-aminobenzyl)-8-(4-oxyacetate)phenyl-1-propyl-xanthine ([¹²⁵I]ABOPX). Recently, high-affinity radioligands for A_2B receptors, [N-(4-cyanophenyl)-2-[4-(2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-2,6-dioxo-1,3-dipropyl-1H-purin-8-yl)-phenoxy]acetamide ([³H]MRS 1754), N-(2-(2-Phenyl-6-[4-(2,2,3,3-tetratritrio-3-phenylpropyl)-piperazine-1-carbonyl]-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-ylamino)-ethyl)-acetamide ([³H]OSIP339391) and N-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-2-[5-(1,3-dipropyl-2,6-dioxo-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-purin-8-yl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yloxy]-acetamide] ([³H]MRE 2029F20), have been introduced. This minireview offers an overview of these recently developed radioligands and the most important applications of drugs towards A_2B receptors.