Role of adenosine A3 receptors on CA1 hippocampal neurotransmission during oxygen-glucose deprivation episodes of different duration

Inhibition of ADORA3 promotes microglial phagocytosis and alleviates chronic ischemic white matter injury

BACKGROUND

Adenosine A3 receptor (ADORA3) belongs to the adenosine receptor families and the role of ADORA3 in vascular dementia (VaD) is largely unexplored. The present study sought to determine the therapeutic role of ADORA3 antagonist in a mouse model of VaD.

METHODS

The GSE122063 dataset was selected to screen the differential expression genes and pathways between VaD patients and controls. A mouse model of bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) was established. The cognitive functions were examined by the novel object recognition test, Y maze test, and fear of conditioning test. The white matter injury (WMI) was examined by 9.4 T MRI, western blot, and immunofluorescence staining. The mechanisms of ADORA3-regulated phagocytosis by microglia were examined using qPCR, western blot, dual immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The expression of ADORA3 was elevated in brain tissues of VaD patients and ADORA3 was indicated as a key gene for VaD in the GSE122063. In BCAS mice, the expression of ADORA3 was predominantly elevated in microglia in the corpus callosum. ADORA3 antagonist promotes microglial phagocytosis to myelin debris by facilitating cAMP/PKA/p-CREB pathway and thereby ameliorates WMI and cognitive impairment in BCAS mice. The therapeutic effect of ADORA3 antagonist was partially reversed by the inhibition of the cAMP/PKA pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

ADORA3 antagonist alleviates chronic ischemic WMI by modulating myelin clearance of microglia, which may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of VaD.

The role of the ATP-adenosine axis in ischemic stroke

In ischemic stroke, the primary neuronal injury caused by the disruption of energy supply is further exacerbated by secondary sterile inflammation. The inflammatory cascade is largely initiated by the purine adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is extensively released to the interstitial space during brain ischemia and functions as an extracellular danger signaling molecule. By engaging P2 receptors, extracellular ATP activates microglia leading to cytokine and chemokine production and subsequent immune cell recruitment from the periphery which further amplifies post-stroke inflammation. The ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73 shape and balance the inflammatory environment by stepwise degrading extracellular ATP to adenosine which itself has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory signaling properties. The neuroprotective effects of adenosine are mainly mediated through A₁ receptors and inhibition of glutamatergic excitotoxicity, while the anti-inflammatory capacities of adenosine have been primarily attributed to A_2A receptor activation on infiltrating immune cells in the subacute phase after stroke. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on the ATP-adenosine axis in ischemic stroke, discuss contradictory results, and point out potential pitfalls towards translating therapeutic approaches from rodent stroke models to human patients.

Selective block of adenosine A2A receptors prevents ischaemic-like effects induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation in rat medium spiny neurons

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Ischaemia is known to cause massive neuronal depolarization, termed anoxic depolarization (AD), due to energy failure and loss of membrane ion gradients. The neuromodulator adenosine accumulates extracellularly during ischaemia and activates four metabotropic receptors: A1 , A2A , A2B and A3 . Striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) express high levels of A2A receptors and are particularly vulnerable to ischaemic insults. A2A Receptor blockade reduces acute striatal post-ischaemic damage but the cellular mechanisms involved are still unknown.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We performed patch-clamp recordings of MSNs in rat striatal slices subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) to investigate the effects of A2A receptor ligands or ion channel blockers on AD and OGD-induced ionic imbalance, measured as a positive shift in Erev of ramp currents.

KEY RESULTS

Our data indicate that the A2A receptor antagonist SCH58261 (10 μM) significantly attenuated ionic imbalance and AD appearance in MSNs exposed to OGD. The K+ channel blocker Ba2+ (2 mM) or the Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin (1 μM) exacerbated and attenuated, respectively, OGD-induced changes. Spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic current (sEPSC) analysis in MSNs revealed that the A2A receptor agonist CGS21680 (1 μM) prevented OGD-induced decrease of sEPSCs within the first 5 min of the insult, an effect shared by the K+ channel blocker Ba2+ , indicating facilitated glutamate release.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Adenosine, released during striatal OGD, activates A2A receptors that may exacerbate OGD-induced damage through K+ channel inhibition. Our results could help to develop A2A receptor-selective therapeutic tools for the treatment of brain ischaemia.

Therapeutic Potential of Highly Selective A3 Adenosine Receptor Ligands in the Central and Peripheral Nervous System

Ligands of the G_i protein-coupled adenosine A₃ receptor (A₃R) are receiving increasing interest as attractive therapeutic tools for the treatment of a number of pathological conditions of the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS, respectively). Their safe pharmacological profiles emerging from clinical trials on different pathologies (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and fatty liver diseases) confer a realistic translational potential to these compounds, thus encouraging the investigation of highly selective agonists and antagonists of A₃R. The present review summarizes information on the effect of latest-generation A₃R ligands, not yet available in commerce, obtained by using different in vitro and in vivo models of various PNS- or CNS-related disorders. This review places particular focus on brain ischemia insults and colitis, where the prototypical A₃R agonist, Cl-IB-MECA, and antagonist, MRS1523, have been used in research studies as reference compounds to explore the effects of latest-generation ligands on this receptor. The advantages and weaknesses of these compounds in terms of therapeutic potential are discussed.

G-Protein-Coupled Receptors and Ischemic Stroke: a Focus on Molecular Function and Therapeutic Potential

In ischemic stroke, there is only one approved drug, tissue plasminogen activator, to be used in clinical conditions for thrombolysis. New neuroprotective therapies for ischemic stroke are desperately needed. Several targets and pathways have been shown to confer neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the most frequently targeted receptors for developing novel therapeutics for central nervous system disorders. GPCRs are a large family of cell surface receptors that response to a wide variety of extracellular stimuli. GPCRs are involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. More than 90% of the identified non-sensory GPCRs are expressed in the brain, where they play important roles in regulating mood, pain, vision, immune responses, cognition, and synaptic transmission. There is also good evidence that GPCRs are implicated in the pathogenesis of stroke. This review narrates the pathophysiological role and possible targeted therapy of GPCRs in ischemic stroke.

Protective effects of carbonic anhydrase inhibition in brain ischaemia in vitro and in vivo models

Ischaemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. One of the major pathogenic mechanisms after ischaemia includes the switch to the glycolytic pathway, leading to tissue acidification. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) contributes to pH regulation. A new generation of CA inhibitors, AN11-740 and AN6-277 and the reference compound acetazolamide (ACTZ) were investigated in two models of brain ischaemia: in rat hippocampal acute slices exposed to severe oxygen, glucose deprivation (OGD) and in an in vivo model of focal cerebral ischaemia induced by permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (pMCAo) in the rat. In vitro, the application of selective CAIs significantly delayed the appearance of anoxic depolarisation induced by OGD. In vivo, sub-chronic systemic treatment with AN11-740 and ACTZ significantly reduced the neurological deficit and decreased the infarct volume after pMCAo. CAIs counteracted neuronal loss, reduced microglia activation and partially counteracted astrocytes degeneration inducing protection from functional and tissue damage.

Caffeine and Its Neuroprotective Role in Ischemic Events: A Mechanism Dependent on Adenosine Receptors

Ischemia is characterized by a transient, insufficient, or permanent interruption of blood flow to a tissue, which leads to an inadequate glucose and oxygen supply. The nervous tissue is highly active, and it closely depends on glucose and oxygen to satisfy its metabolic demand. Therefore, ischemic conditions promote cell death and lead to a secondary wave of cell damage that progressively spreads to the neighborhood areas, called penumbra. Brain ischemia is one of the main causes of deaths and summed with retinal ischemia comprises one of the principal reasons of disability. Although several studies have been performed to investigate the mechanisms of damage to find protective/preventive interventions, an effective treatment does not exist yet. Adenosine is a well-described neuromodulator in the central nervous system (CNS), and acts through four subtypes of G-protein-coupled receptors. Adenosine receptors, especially A₁ and A_2A receptors, are the main targets of caffeine in daily consumption doses. Accordingly, caffeine has been greatly studied in the context of CNS pathologies. In fact, adenosine system, as well as caffeine, is involved in neuroprotection effects in different pathological situations. Therefore, the present review focuses on the role of adenosine/caffeine in CNS, brain and retina, ischemic events.

Adenosine Receptors in Modulation of Central Nervous System Disorders

The ubiquitous signaling nucleoside molecule, adenosine is found in different cells of the human body to provide its numerous pharmacological role. The associated actions of endogenous adenosine are largely dependent on conformational change of the widely expressed heterodimeric G-protein-coupled A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 adenosine receptors (ARs). These receptors are well conserved on the surface of specific cells, where potent neuromodulatory properties of this bioactive molecule reflected by its easy passage through the rigid blood-brainbarrier, to simultaneously act on the central nervous system (CNS). The minimal concentration of adenosine in body fluids (30-300 nM) is adequate to exert its neuromodulatory action in the CNS, whereas the modulatory effect of adenosine on ARs is the consequence of several neurodegenerative diseases. Modulatory action concerning the activation of such receptors in the CNS could be facilitated towards neuroprotective action against such CNS disorders. Our aim herein is to discuss briefly pathophysiological roles of adenosine on ARs in the modulation of different CNS disorders, which could be focused towards the identification of potential drug targets in recovering accompanying CNS disorders. Researches with active components with AR modulatory action have been extended and already reached to the bedside of the patients through clinical research in the improvement of CNS disorders. Therefore, this review consist of recent findings in literatures concerning the impact of ARs on diverse CNS disease pathways with the possible relevance to neurodegeneration.

Focusing on Adenosine Receptors as a Potential Targeted Therapy in Human Diseases

Adenosine is involved in a range of physiological and pathological effects through membrane-bound receptors linked to G proteins. There are four subtypes of adenosine receptors, described as A1AR, A2AAR, A2BAR, and A3AR, which are the center of cAMP signal pathway-based drug development. Several types of agonists, partial agonists or antagonists, and allosteric substances have been synthesized from these receptors as new therapeutic drug candidates. Research efforts surrounding A1AR and A2AAR are perhaps the most enticing because of their concentration and affinity; however, as a consequence of distressing conditions, both A2BAR and A3AR levels might accumulate. This review focuses on the biological features of each adenosine receptor as the basis of ligand production and describes clinical studies of adenosine receptor-associated pharmaceuticals in human diseases.

A live cell NanoBRET binding assay allows the study of ligand-binding kinetics to the adenosine A3 receptor

There is a growing interest in understanding the binding kinetics of compounds that bind to G protein-coupled receptors prior to progressing a lead compound into clinical trials. The widely expressed adenosine A₃ receptor (A₃AR) has been implicated in a range of diseases including immune conditions, and compounds that aim to selectively target this receptor are currently under development for arthritis. Kinetic studies at the A₃AR have been performed using a radiolabelled antagonist, but due to the kinetics of this probe, they have been carried out at 10 °C in membrane preparations. In this study, we have developed a live cell NanoBRET ligand binding assay using fluorescent A₃AR antagonists to measure kinetic parameters of labelled and unlabelled compounds at the A₃AR at physiological temperatures. The kinetic profiles of four fluorescent antagonists were determined in kinetic association assays, and it was found that XAC-ser-tyr-X-BY630 had the longest residence time (RT = 288 ± 62 min) at the A₃AR. The association and dissociation rate constants of three antagonists PSB-11, compound 5, and LUF7565 were also determined using two fluorescent ligands (XAC-ser-tyr-X-BY630 or AV039, RT = 6.8 ± 0.8 min) as the labelled probe and compared to those obtained using a radiolabelled antagonist ([³H]PSB-11, RT = 44.6 ± 3.9 min). There was close agreement in the kinetic parameters measured with AV039 and [³H]PSB-11 but significant differences to those obtained using XAC-S-ser-S-tyr-X-BY630. These data indicate that selecting a probe with the appropriate kinetics is important to accurately determine the kinetics of unlabelled ligands with markedly different kinetic profiles.

Prolyl hydroxylase domain inhibitors: can multiple mechanisms be an opportunity for ischemic stroke?

Stroke and cerebrovascular disease are now the fifth most common cause of death behind other diseases such as heart, cancer and respiratory disease and accounts for approximately 40-50 fatalities per 100,000 people each year in the United States. Currently the only therapy for acute stroke, is intravenous administration of tissue plasminogen activator which was approved in 1996 by the FDA. Surprisingly no new treatments have come on the market since, although endovascular mechanical thrombectomy is showing promising results in trials. Recently focus has shifted towards a preventative therapy rather than trying to reverse or limit the amount of damage occurring following stroke onset. During one of the components of ischemia, hypoxia, a number of physiological changes occur within neurons which include the stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factors. The activity of these proteins is regulated by O₂, Fe²⁺, 2-OG and ascorbate-dependant hydroxylases which contain prolyl-4-hydroxylase domains (PHDs). PHD inhibitors are capable of pharmacologically activating the body's own endogenous adaptive response to low levels of oxygen and have therefore become an attractive therapeutic target for treating ischemia. They have been widely used in the periphery and have been shown to have a preconditioning and protective effect against a later and more severe ischemic insult. Currently there are a number of these agents in phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials for the treatment of anemia. In this review we assess the neuroprotective effects of PHD inhibitors, including dimethyloxalylglycine and deferoxamine and suggest that not all of their effects in the CNS are HIF-dependent. Unravelling new roles and a better understanding of the function of PHD inhibitors in the CNS may be of great benefit especially when investigating their use in the treatment of stroke and other ischemic diseases.

Pharmacology of Adenosine Receptors: The State of the Art

Adenosine is a ubiquitous endogenous autacoid whose effects are triggered through the enrollment of four G protein-coupled receptors: A₁, A_2A, A_2B, 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.

A3 Adenosine Receptors as Modulators of Inflammation: From Medicinal Chemistry to Therapy

The A3 adenosine receptor (A3 AR) subtype is a novel, promising therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis, as well as liver cancer. A3 AR is coupled to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, leading to modulation of transcription. Furthermore, A3 AR affects functions of almost all immune cells and the proliferation of cancer cells. Numerous A3 AR agonists, partial agonists, antagonists, and allosteric modulators have been reported, and their structure-activity relationships (SARs) have been studied culminating in the development of potent and selective molecules with drug-like characteristics. The efficacy of nucleoside agonists may be suppressed to produce antagonists, by structural modification of the ribose moiety. Diverse classes of heterocycles have been discovered as selective A3 AR blockers, although with large species differences. Thus, as a result of intense basic research efforts, the outlook for development of A3 AR modulators for human therapeutics is encouraging. Two prototypical selective agonists, N6-(3-Iodobenzyl)adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (IB-MECA; CF101) and 2-chloro-N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (Cl-IB-MECA; CF102), have progressed to advanced clinical trials. They were found safe and well tolerated in all preclinical and human clinical studies and showed promising results, particularly in psoriasis and RA, where the A3 AR is both a promising therapeutic target and a biologically predictive marker, suggesting a personalized medicine approach. Targeting the A3 AR may pave the way for safe and efficacious treatments for patient populations affected by inflammatory diseases, cancer, and other conditions.

The Selective Antagonism of Adenosine A2B Receptors Reduces the Synaptic Failure and Neuronal Death Induced by Oxygen and Glucose Deprivation in Rat CA1 Hippocampus in Vitro

Ischemia is a multifactorial pathology characterized by different events evolving in time. Immediately after the ischemic insult, primary brain damage is due to the massive increase of extracellular glutamate. Adenosine in the brain increases dramatically during ischemia in concentrations able to stimulate all its receptors, A₁, A_2A, A_2B, and A₃. Although adenosine exerts clear neuroprotective effects through A₁ receptors during ischemia, the use of selective A₁ receptor agonists is hampered by their undesirable peripheral side effects. So far, no evidence is available on the involvement of adenosine A_2B receptors in cerebral ischemia. This study explored the role of adenosine A_2B receptors on synaptic and cellular responses during oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus in vitro. We conducted extracellular recordings of CA1 field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSPs); the extent of damage on neurons and glia was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Seven min OGD induced anoxic depolarization (AD) in all hippocampal slices tested and completely abolished fEPSPs that did not recover after return to normoxic condition. Seven minutes OGD was applied in the presence of the selective adenosine A_2B receptor antagonists MRS1754 (500 nM) or PSB603 (50 nM), separately administered 15 min before, during and 5 min after OGD. Both antagonists were able to prevent or delay the appearance of AD and to modify synaptic responses after OGD, allowing significant recovery of neurotransmission. Adenosine A_2B receptor antagonism also counteracted the reduction of neuronal density in CA1 stratum pyramidale, decreased apoptosis at least up to 3 h after the end of OGD, and maintained activated mTOR levels similar to those of controls, thus sparing neurons from the degenerative effects caused by the simil-ischemic conditions. Astrocytes significantly proliferated in CA1 stratum radiatum already 3 h after the end of OGD, possibly due to increased glutamate release. A_2Breceptor antagonism significantly prevented astrocyte modifications. Both A_2B receptor antagonists did not protect CA1 neurons from the neurodegeneration induced by glutamate application, indicating that the antagonistic effect is upstream of glutamate release. The selective antagonists of the adenosine A_2B receptor subtype may thus represent a new class of neuroprotective drugs in ischemia.

Dexmedetomidine promotes the recovery of the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in rat hippocampal slices exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation

Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a selective α2 adrenergic agonist, is an anesthetic and sedative agent, and is reported to exert neuroprotective effects after hypoxic ischemia. However, there are few studies on the electrophysiological effect of DEX in hippocampal slices under ischemic conditions. The effects of DEX on field potential in hippocampal slices exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) were evaluated. Hippocampal slices were prepared from rats, and the evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) were recorded using the MED 64 system. Hypoxic-ischemia was induced by perfusion with glucose-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) bubbled with 95% N2 and 5% CO2, and hippocampal slices were perfused with DEX-added aCSF before, during, and after OGD induction. In the normal hippocampal slices, perfusion with 1 and 10μM DEX did not significantly decrease the normalized fEPSP amplitude, but 100μM DEX significantly reduced the fEPSP amplitude compared with its baseline control. The induction of OGD remarkably decreased the fEPSP amplitude, whereas the pre-, co-, and post-treatment of 10μM DEX gradually promoted recovery after washing out, and consequently the amplitude of fEPSP in DEX pre-, co-, and post-treated OGD slices were significantly higher than that in the untreated OGD slices at 10min and 60min after washing out. In particular, co-treatment with DEX conspicuously promoted the recovery of the fEPSP amplitude at the beginning of washing out. These results suggest the possibility of DEX as a therapeutic agent to prevent hypoxic-ischemic brain damage and promote functional recovery after ischemia.

Purinergic signalling in brain ischemia

Ischemia is a multifactorial pathology characterized by different events evolving in the time. After ischemia a primary damage due to the early massive increase of extracellular glutamate is followed by activation of resident immune cells, i.e microglia, and production or activation of inflammation mediators. Protracted neuroinflammation is now recognized as the predominant mechanism of secondary brain injury progression. Extracellular concentrations of ATP and adenosine in the brain increase dramatically during ischemia in concentrations able to stimulate their respective specific P2 and P1 receptors. Both ATP P2 and adenosine P1 receptor subtypes exert important roles in ischemia. Although adenosine exerts a clear neuroprotective effect through A1 receptors during ischemia, the use of selective A1 agonists is hampered by undesirable peripheral effects. Evidence up to now in literature indicate that A2A receptor antagonists provide protection centrally by reducing excitotoxicity, while agonists at A2A (and possibly also A2B) and A3 receptors provide protection by controlling massive infiltration and neuroinflammation in the hours and days after brain ischemia. Among P2X receptors most evidence indicate that P2X7 receptor contribute to the damage induced by the ischemic insult due to intracellular Ca(2+) loading in central cells and facilitation of glutamate release. Antagonism of P2X7 receptors might represent a new treatment to attenuate brain damage and to promote proliferation and maturation of brain immature resident cells that can promote tissue repair following cerebral ischemia. Among P2Y receptors, antagonists of P2Y12 receptors are of value because of their antiplatelet activity and possibly because of additional anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover strategies that modify adenosine or ATP concentrations at injury sites might be of value to limit damage after ischemia. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Purines in Neurodegeneration and Neuroregeneration'.

Basal adenosine modulates the functional properties of AMPA receptors in mouse hippocampal neurons through the activation of A1R A2AR and A3R

Adenosine is a widespread neuromodulator within the CNS and its extracellular level is increased during hypoxia or intense synaptic activity, modulating pre- and postsynaptic sites. We studied the neuromodulatory action of adenosine on glutamatergic currents in the hippocampus, showing that activation of multiple adenosine receptors (ARs) by basal adenosine impacts postsynaptic site. Specifically, the stimulation of both A₁R and A₃R reduces AMPA currents, while A_2AR has an opposite potentiating effect. The effect of ARs stimulation on glutamatergic currents in hippocampal cultures was investigated using pharmacological and genetic approaches. A₃R inhibition by MRS1523 increased GluR1-Ser845 phosphorylation and potentiated AMPA current amplitude, increasing the apparent affinity for the agonist. A similar effect was observed blocking A₁R with DPCPX or by genetic deletion of either A₃R or A₁R. Conversely, impairment of A_2AR reduced AMPA currents, and decreased agonist sensitivity. Consistently, in hippocampal slices, ARs activation by AR agonist NECA modulated glutamatergic current amplitude evoked by AMPA application or afferent fiber stimulation. Opposite effects of AR subtypes stimulation are likely associated to changes in GluR1 phosphorylation and represent a novel mechanism of physiological modulation of glutamatergic transmission by adenosine, likely acting in normal conditions in the brain, depending on the level of extracellular adenosine and the distribution of AR subtypes.

The A3 adenosine receptor: history and perspectives

By general consensus, the omnipresent purine nucleoside adenosine is considered a major regulator of local tissue function, especially when energy supply fails to meet cellular energy demand. Adenosine mediation involves activation of a family of four G protein-coupled adenosine receptors (ARs): A(1), A(2)A, A(2)B, and A(3). The A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)AR) is the only adenosine subtype to be overexpressed in inflammatory and cancer cells, thus making it a potential target for therapy. Originally isolated as an orphan receptor, A(3)AR presented a twofold nature under different pathophysiologic conditions: it appeared to be protective/harmful under ischemic conditions, pro/anti-inflammatory, and pro/antitumoral depending on the systems investigated. Until recently, the greatest and most intriguing challenge has been to understand whether, and in which cases, selective A(3) agonists or antagonists would be the best choice. Today, the choice has been made and A(3)AR agonists are now under clinical development for some disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, glaucoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. More specifically, the interest and relevance of these new agents derives from clinical data demonstrating that A(3)AR agonists are both effective and safe. Thus, it will become apparent in the present review that purine scientists do seem to be getting closer to their goal: the incorporation of adenosine ligands into drugs with the ability to save lives and improve human health.

Exploring the 7-oxo-thiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine core for the design of new human adenosine A3 receptor antagonists. Synthesis, molecular modeling studies and pharmacological evaluation

A new series of 5-methyl-thiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine-7-ones bearing different substituents at position 2 (aryl, heteroaryl and arylamino groups) was synthesized and evaluated in radioligand binding assays to determine their affinities at the human (h) A1, A2A, and A3 adenosine receptors (ARs). Efficacy at the hA(2B) and antagonism of selected ligands at the hA3 were also assessed through cAMP experiments. Some of the new derivatives exhibited good to high hA3AR affinity and selectivity versus all the other AR subtypes. Compound 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methyl-thiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine-7-one 4 was found to be the most potent and selective ligand of the series (K(I) hA3 = 18 nM). Molecular docking studies of the reported derivatives were carried out to depict their hypothetical binding mode in our hA3 receptor model.

1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxaline derivatives and their simplified analogues as adenosine A₃ receptor antagonists. Synthesis, structure-affinity relationships and molecular modeling studies

The 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxaline (TQX) scaffold was extensively investigated in our previously reported studies and recently, our attention was focused at position 5 of the tricyclic nucleus where different acyl and carboxylate moieties were introduced (compounds 2-15). This study produced some interesting compounds endowed with good hA3 receptor affinity and selectivity. In addition, to find new insights about the structural requirements for hA3 receptor-ligand interaction, the tricyclic TQX ring was destroyed yielding some 1,2,4-triazole derivatives (compounds 16-23). These simplified compounds, though maintaining the crucial structural requirements for adenosine receptor-ligand interaction, have a very low hA3 adenosine receptor affinity, the only exception being compound 23 (1-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl]-3-phenylurea) endowed with a Ki value in the micro-molar range and high hA3 selectivity versus both hA1 and hA2A AR subtypes. Evaluation of the side products obtained in the herein reported synthetic pathways led to the identification of some new triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxalines as hA3AR antagonists (compounds 24-27). These derivatives, though lacking the classical structural requirements for the anchoring at the hA3 receptor site, show high hA3 affinity and in some case selectivity versus hA1 and hA2A subtypes. Molecular docking of the herein reported tricyclic and simplified derivatives was carried out to depict their hypothetical binding mode to our model of hA3 receptor.

Ionotropic receptors and ion channels in ischemic neuronal death and dysfunction

Loss of energy supply to neurons during stroke induces a rapid loss of membrane potential that is called the anoxic depolarization. Anoxic depolarizations result in tremendous physiological stress on the neurons because of the dysregulation of ionic fluxes and the loss of ATP to drive ion pumps that maintain electrochemical gradients. In this review, we present an overview of some of the ionotropic receptors and ion channels that are thought to contribute to the anoxic depolarization of neurons and subsequently, to cell death. The ionotropic receptors for glutamate and ATP that function as ligand-gated cation channels are critical in the death and dysfunction of neurons. Interestingly, two of these receptors (P2X7 and NMDAR) have been shown to couple to the pannexin-1 (Panx1) ion channel. We also discuss the important roles of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) in responses to ischemia. The central challenge that emerges from our current understanding of the anoxic depolarization is the need to elucidate the mechanistic and temporal interrelations of these ion channels to fully appreciate their impact on neurons during stroke.

Effects of oxygen and glucose deprivation on synaptic transmission in rat dentate gyrus: role of A2A adenosine receptors

The hippocampus is comprised of two distinct subfields that show different responses to hypoxic-ischemic brain injury: the CA1 region is particularly susceptible whereas the dentate gyrus (DG) is quite resistant. Our aim was to determine the synaptic and proliferative response of the DG to severe oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in acute rat hippocampal slices and to investigate the contribution of A(2A) adenosine receptor antagonism to recovery of synaptic activity after OGD. Extracellular recordings of field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in granule cells of the DG in brain slices prepared from male Wistar rats were used. A 9-min OGD is needed in the DG to always induce the appearance of anoxic depolarization (AD) and the irreversible block of synaptic activity, as recorded up to 24 h from the end of the insult, whereas only 7-min OGD is required in the CA1 region. Selective antagonism of A(2A) adenosine receptors by ZM241385 significantly prevents or delays the appearance of AD and protects from the irreversible block of neurotransmission induced by 9-min OGD in the DG. The effects of 9-min OGD on proliferation and maturation of cells localized in the subgranular zone of DG in slices prepared from 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) treated rats was investigated. Slices were further incubated with an immature neuronal marker, doublecortin (DCX). The number of BrdU(+) cells was significantly decreased 6 h after 9-min OGD and this effect was antagonized by ZM241385. After 24 h from the end of 9-min OGD, the number of BrdU(+) cells returned to that found before OGD and increased arborization of tertiary dendrites of DCX(+) cells was observed. The adenosine A(2A) antagonist ZM241385 protects from synaptic failure and from decreased proliferation of immature neuronal cells at a precocious time after OGD.

CXCL16 orchestrates adenosine A3 receptor and MCP-1/CCL2 activity to protect neurons from excitotoxic cell death in the CNS

A role for chemokines as molecules mediating neuron-glia cross talk has emerged in recent years, both in physiological and pathological conditions. We demonstrate here for the first time that the chemokine CXCL16 and its unique receptor CXCR6 are functionally expressed in the CNS, and induce neuroprotection against excitotoxic damage due to excessive glutamate (Glu) exposure and oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD). In mice and rats we found that, to exert neuroprotection, CXCL16 requires the presence of extracellular adenosine (ADO), and that pharmacological or genetic inactivation of the ADO A(3) receptor, A(3)R, prevents CXCL16 effect. In experiments with astrocytes cocultured with cxcr6(gfp/gfp) hippocampal cells, we demonstrate that CXCL16 acts directly on astrocytes to release soluble factors that are essential to mediate neuroprotection. In particular, we report that (1) upon stimulation with CXCL16 astrocytes release monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/CCL2 and (2) the neuroprotective effect of CXCL16 is reduced in the presence of neutralizing CCL2 antibody. In conclusion, we found that chemokine CXCL16 is able to mediate cross talk between astrocytes and neighboring neurons and, in pathological conditions such as excessive Glu or OGD exposure, is able to counteract neuronal cell death through an ADO-dependent chemokine-induced chemokine-release mechanism.

The A3 adenosine receptor as multifaceted therapeutic target: pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and in silico approaches

Adenosine is an ubiquitous local modulator that regulates various physiological and pathological functions by stimulating four membrane receptors, namely A(1), A(2A), A(2B), and A(3). Among these G protein-coupled receptors, the A(3) subtype is found mainly in the lung, liver, heart, eyes, and brain in our body. It has been associated with cerebroprotection and cardioprotection, as well as modulation of cellular growth upon its selective activation. On the other hand, its inhibition by selective antagonists has been reported to be potentially useful in the treatment of pathological conditions including glaucoma, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. In this review, we focused on the pharmacology and the therapeutic implications of the human (h)A(3) adenosine receptor (AR), together with an overview on the progress of hA(3) AR agonists, antagonists, allosteric modulators, and radioligands, as well as on the recent advances pertaining to the computational approaches (e.g., quantitative structure-activity relationships, homology modeling, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations) applied to the modeling of hA(3) AR and drug design. 

A3 adenosine receptor agonist reduces brain ischemic injury and inhibits inflammatory cell migration in rats

A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) is recognized as a novel therapeutic target for ischemic injury; however, the mechanism underlying anti-ischemic protection by the A3AR agonist remains unclear. Here, we report that 2-chloro-N(6)-(3-iodobenzyl)-5'-N-methylcarbamoyl-4'-thioadenosine (LJ529), a selective A3AR agonist, reduces inflammatory responses that may contribute to ischemic cerebral injury. Postischemic treatment with LJ529 markedly reduced cerebral ischemic injury caused by 1.5-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion, followed by 24-hour reperfusion in rats. This effect was abolished by the simultaneous administration of the A3AR antagonist MRS1523, but not the A2AAR antagonist SCH58261. LJ529 prevented the infiltration/migration of microglia and monocytes occurring after middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, and also after injection of lipopolysaccharides into the corpus callosum. The reduced migration of microglia by LJ529 could be related with direct inhibition of chemotaxis and down-regulation of spatiotemporal expression of Rho GTPases (including Rac, Cdc42, and Rho), rather than by biologically relevant inhibition of inflammatory cytokine/chemokine release (eg, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MCP-1) or by direct inhibition of excitotoxicity/oxidative stress (not affected by LJ529). The present findings indicate that postischemic activation of A3AR and the resultant reduction of inflammatory response should provide a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Purinergic signalling: from normal behaviour to pathological brain function

Purinergic neurotransmission, involving release of ATP as an efferent neurotransmitter was first proposed in 1972. Later, ATP was recognised as a cotransmitter in peripheral nerves and more recently as a cotransmitter with glutamate, noradrenaline, GABA, acetylcholine and dopamine in the CNS. Both ATP, together with some of its enzymatic breakdown products (ADP and adenosine) and uracil nucleotides are now recognised to act via P2X ion channels and P1 and P2Y G protein-coupled receptors, which are widely expressed in the brain. They mediate both fast signalling in neurotransmission and neuromodulation and long-term (trophic) signalling in cell proliferation, differentiation and death. Purinergic signalling is prominent in neurone-glial cell interactions. In this review we discuss first the evidence implicating purinergic signalling in normal behaviour, including learning and memory, sleep and arousal, locomotor activity and exploration, feeding behaviour and mood and motivation. Then we turn to the involvement of P1 and P2 receptors in pathological brain function; firstly in trauma, ischemia and stroke, then in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's, as well as multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Finally, the role of purinergic signalling in neuropsychiatric diseases (including schizophrenia), epilepsy, migraine, cognitive impairment and neuropathic pain will be considered.

Nuclear Factor κB and Adenosine Receptors: Biochemical and Behavioral Profiling

Adenosine is produced primarily by the metabolism of ATP and mediates its physiological actions by interacting primarily with adenosine receptors (ARs) on the plasma membranes of different cell types in the body. Activation of these G protein-coupled receptors promotes activation of diverse cellular signaling pathways that define their tissue-specific functions. One of the major actions of adenosine is cytoprotection, mediated primarily via two ARs - A(1) (A(1)AR) and A(3) (A(3)AR). These ARs protect cells exposed to oxidative stress and are also regulated by oxidative stress. Stress-mediated regulation of ARs involves two prominent transcription factors - activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB - that mediate the induction of genes important in cell survival. Mice that are genetically deficient in the p50 subunit of NF-κB (i.e., p50 knock-out mice) exhibit altered expression of A(1)AR and A(2A)AR and demonstrate distinct behavioral phenotypes under normal conditions or after drug challenges. These effects suggest an important role for NF-κB in dictating the level of expression of ARs in vivo, in regulating the cellular responses to stress, and in modifying behavior.

P2 receptor antagonists prevent synaptic failure and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation in rat CA1 hippocampus in vitro

To investigate the role of purinergic P2 receptors under ischemia, we studied the effect of P2 receptor antagonists on synaptic transmission and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation under oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in rat hippocampal slices. The effect of the P2 antagonists pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonate (PPADS, unselective, 30 μm), N( 6) -methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine-3',5'-bisphosphate (MRS2179, selective for P2Y(1) receptor, 10 μm), Brilliant Blue G (BBG, selective for P2X(7) receptor, 1 μm), and 5-[[[(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl][(1S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthalenyl]amino]carbonyl]-1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid (A-317491, selective for P2X(3) receptor, 10 μm), and of the newly synthesized P2X(3) receptor antagonists 2-amino-9-(5-iodo-2-isopropyl-4-methoxybenzyl)adenine (PX21, 1 μm) and 2-amino-9-(5-iodo-2-isopropyl-4-methoxybenzyl)-N( 6)-methyladenine (PX24, 1 μm), on the depression of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) and anoxic depolarization (AD) elicited by 7 min of OGD were evaluated. All antagonists significantly prevented these effects. The extent of CA1 cell injury was assessed 3 h after the end of 7 min of OGD by propidium iodide staining. Substantial CA1 pyramidal neuronal damage, detected in untreated slices exposed to OGD injury, was significantly prevented by PPADS (30 μm), MRS2179 (10 μm), and BBG (1 μm). Western blot analysis showed that, 10 min after the end of the 7 min of OGD, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 MAPK activation was significantly increased. MRS2179, BBG, PPADS and A-317491 significantly counteracted ERK1/2 activation. Hippocampal slices incubated with the ERK1/2 inhibitors 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis(2-aminophenylthio)butadiene (U0126, 10 μm) and α-[amino[(4-aminophenyl)thio]methylene]-2-(trifluoromethyl) benzeneacetonitrile (SL327, 10 μm) showed significant fEPSP recovery after OGD and delayed AD, supporting the involvement of ERK1/2 in neuronal damage induced by OGD. These results indicate that subtypes of hippocampal P2 purinergic receptors have a harmful effect on neurotransmission in the CA1 hippocampus by participating in AD appearance and activation of ERK1/2.

The identification of the 2-phenylphthalazin-1(2H)-one scaffold as a new decorable core skeleton for the design of potent and selective human A3 adenosine receptor antagonists

Following a molecular simplification approach, we have identified the 2-phenylphthalazin-1(2H)-one (PHTZ) ring system as a new decorable core skeleton for the design of novel hA(3) adenosine receptor (AR) antagonists. Interest for this new series was driven by the structural similarity between the PHTZ skeleton and both the 2-aryl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (TQX) and the 4-carboxamido-quinazoline (QZ) scaffolds extensively investigated in our previously reported studies. Our attention was focused at position 4 of the phthalazine nucleus where different amido and ureido moieties were introduced (compounds 2-20). Some of the new PHTZ compounds showed high hA(3) AR affinity and selectivity, the 2,5-dimethoxyphenylphthalazin-1(2H)-one 18 being the most potent and selective hA(3) AR antagonist among this series (K(i) = 0.776 nM; hA(1)/hA(3) and hA(2A)/hA(3) > 12000). Molecular docking studies on the PHTZ derivatives revealed for these compounds a binding mode similar to that of the previously reported TQX and QZ series, as was expected from the simplification approach.

Adenosine neuromodulation and traumatic brain injury

Adenosine is a ubiquitous signaling molecule, with widespread activity across all organ systems. There is evidence that adenosine regulation is a significant factor in traumatic brain injury (TBI) onset, recovery, and outcome, and a growing body of experimental work examining the therapeutic potential of adenosine neuromodulation in the treatment of TBI. In the central nervous system (CNS), adenosine (dys)regulation has been demonstrated following TBI, and correlated to several TBI pathologies, including impaired cerebral hemodynamics, anaerobic metabolism, and inflammation. In addition to acute pathologies, adenosine function has been implicated in TBI comorbidities, such as cognitive deficits, psychiatric function, and post-traumatic epilepsy. This review presents studies in TBI as well as adenosine-related mechanisms in co-morbidities of and unfavorable outcomes resulting from TBI. While the exact role of the adenosine system following TBI remains unclear, there is increasing evidence that a thorough understanding of adenosine signaling will be critical to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools for the treatment of TBI.

Adenosine and stroke: maximizing the therapeutic potential of adenosine as a prophylactic and acute neuroprotectant

Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Despite intensive research into the development of treatments that lessen the severity of cerebrovascular injury, no major therapies exist. Though the potential use of adenosine as a neuroprotective agent in the context of stroke has long been realized, there are currently no adenosine-based therapies for the treatment of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. One of the major obstacles to developing adenosine-based therapies for the treatment of stroke is the prevalence of functional adenosine receptors outside the central nervous system. The activities of peripheral immune and vascular endothelial cells are particularly vulnerable to modulation via adenosine receptors. Many of the pathophysiological processes in stroke are a direct result of peripheral immune infiltration into the brain. Ischemic preconditioning, which can be induced by a number of stimuli, has emerged as a promising area of focus in the development of stroke therapeutics. Reprogramming of the brain and immune responses to adenosine signaling may be an underlying principle of tolerance to cerebral ischemia. Insight into the role of adenosine in various preconditioning paradigms may lead to new uses for adenosine as both an acute and prophylactic neuroprotectant.

Adenosine receptor desensitization and trafficking

As with the majority of G-protein-coupled receptors, all four of the adenosine receptor subtypes are known to undergo agonist-induced regulation in the form of desensitization and trafficking. These processes can limit the ability of adenosine receptors to couple to intracellular signalling pathways and thus reduce the ability of adenosine receptor agonists as well as endogenous adenosine to produce cellular responses. In addition, since adenosine receptors couple to multiple signalling pathways, these pathways may desensitize differentially, while the desensitization of one pathway could even trigger signalling via another. Thus, the overall picture of adenosine receptor regulation can be complex. For all adenosine receptor subtypes, there is evidence to implicate arrestins in agonist-induced desensitization and trafficking, but there is also evidence for other possible forms of regulation, including second messenger-dependent kinase regulation, heterologous effects involving G proteins, and the involvement of non-clathrin trafficking pathways such as caveolae. In this review, the evidence implicating these mechanisms is summarized for each adenosine receptor subtype, and we also discuss those issues of adenosine receptor regulation that remain to be resolved as well as likely directions for future research in this field.

CX3CL1-induced modulation at CA1 synapses reveals multiple mechanisms of EPSC modulation involving adenosine receptor subtypes

We characterized the role of adenosine receptor (AR) subtypes in the modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission by the chemokine fractalkine (CX3CL1) in mouse hippocampal CA1 neurons. CX(3)CL1 causes a reversible depression of excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC), which is abolished by the A(3)R antagonist MRS1523, but not by A(1)R (DPCPX) or A(2A)R (SCH58261) antagonists. Consistently, CX3CL1-induced EPSC depression is absent in slices from A(3)R(-/-) but not A(1)R(-/-) or A(2A)R(-/-) mice. Further, A(3)R stimulation causes similar EPSC depression. In cultured neurons, CX3CL1-induced depression of AMPA current shows A(1)R-A(3)R pharmacology. We conclude that glutamatergic depression induced by released adenosine requires the stimulation of different ARs.

Adenosine A1 receptors and microglial cells mediate CX3CL1-induced protection of hippocampal neurons against Glu-induced death

Fractalkine/CX3CL1 is a neuron-associated chemokine, which modulates microglia-induced neurotoxicity activating the specific and unique receptor CX3CR1. CX3CL1/CX3CR1 interaction modulates the release of cytokines from microglia, reducing the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1-beta, and nitric oxide and induces the production of neurotrophic substances, both in vivo and in vitro. We have recently shown that blocking adenosine A(1) receptors (A(1)R) with the specific antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX) abolishes CX3CL1-mediated rescue of neuronal excitotoxic death and that CX3CL1 induces the release of adenosine from microglia. In this study, we show that the presence of extracellular adenosine is mandatory for the neurotrophic effect of CX3CL1 as reducing adenosine levels in hippocampal cultures, by adenosine deaminase treatment, strongly impairs CX3CL1-mediated neuroprotection. Furthermore, we confirm the predominant role of microglia in mediating the neuronal effects of CX3CL1, because the selective depletion of microglia from hippocampal cultures treated with clodronate-filled liposomes causes the complete loss of effect of CX3CL1. We also show that hippocampal neurons obtained from A(1)R(-/-) mice are not protected by CX3CL1 whereas A(2A)R(-/-) neurons are. The requirement of functional A(1)R for neuroprotection is not unique for CX3CL1 as A(1)R(-/-) hippocampal neurons are not rescued from Glu-induced cell death by other neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor and erythropoietin, which are fully active on wt neurons.

A3 adenosine receptor: pharmacology and role in disease

The study of the A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)AR) represents a rapidly growing and intense area of research in the adenosine field. The present chapter will provide an overview of the expression patterns, molecular pharmacology and functional role of this A(3)AR subtype under pathophysiological conditions. Through studies utilizing selective A(3)AR agonists and antagonists, or A(3)AR knockout mice, it is now clear that this receptor plays a critical role in the modulation of ischemic diseases as well as in inflammatory and autoimmune pathologies. Therefore, the potential therapeutic use of agonists and antagonists will also be described. The discussion will principally address the use of such compounds in the treatment of brain and heart ischemia, asthma, sepsis and glaucoma. The final part concentrates on the molecular basis of A(3)ARs in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and includes a description of clinical trials with the selective agonist CF101. Based on this chapter, it is evident that continued research to discover agonists and antagonists for the A(3)AR subtype is warranted.

The A3 adenosine receptor attenuates the calcium rise triggered by NMDA receptors in retinal ganglion cells

The A(3) adenosine receptor is emerging as an important regulator of neuronal signaling, and in some situations receptor stimulation can limit excitability. As the NMDA receptor frequently contributes to neuronal excitability, this study examined whether A(3) receptor activation could alter the calcium rise accompanying NMDA receptor stimulation. Calcium levels were determined from fura-2 imaging of isolated rat retinal ganglion cells as these neurons possess both receptor types. Brief application of glutamate or NMDA led to repeatable and reversible elevations of intracellular calcium. The A(3) agonist Cl-IB-MECA reduced the response to both glutamate and NMDA. While adenosine mimicked the effect of Cl-IB-MECA, the A(3) receptor antagonist MRS 1191 impeded the block by adenosine, implicating a role for the A(3) receptor in response to the natural agonist. The A(1) receptor antagonist DPCPX provided additional inhibition, implying a contribution from both A(1) and A(3) adenosine receptors. The novel A(3) agonist MRS 3558 (1'S,2'R,3'S,4'R,5'S)-4-(2-chloro-6-(3-chlorobenzylamino)-9H-purin-9-yl)-2,3-dihydroxy-N-methylbicyclo [3.1.0] hexane-1-carboxamide and mixed A(1)/A(3) agonist MRS 3630 (1'S,2'R,3'S,4'R,5'S)-4-(2-chloro-6-(cyclopentylamino)-9H-purin-9-yl)-2,3-dihydroxy-N-methylbicyclo [3.1.0] hexane-1-carboxamide also inhibited the calcium rise induced by NMDA. Low levels of MRS 3558 were particularly effective, with an IC(50) of 400 pM. In all cases, A(3) receptor stimulation inhibited only 30-50% of the calcium rise. In summary, stimulation of the A(3) adenosine receptor by either endogenous or synthesized agonists can limit the calcium rise accompanying NMDA receptor activation. It remains to be determined if partial block of the calcium rise by A(3) agonists can modify downstream responses to NMDA receptor stimulation.

The adenosine A2A receptor antagonist ZM241385 enhances neuronal survival after oxygen-glucose deprivation in rat CA1 hippocampal slices

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Activation of adenosine A(2A) receptors in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices during oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), a model of cerebral ischaemia, was investigated.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We made extracellular recordings of CA1 field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fepsps) followed by histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques coupled to Western blots.

KEY RESULTS

OGD (7 or 30 min duration) elicited an irreversible loss of fepsps invariably followed by the appearance of anoxic depolarization (AD), an unambiguous sign of neuronal damage. The application of the selective adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonist, ZM241385 (4-(2-[7-amino-2-{2-furyl}{1,2,4}triazolo{2,3-a}{1,3,5}triazin-5-ylamino]ethyl)phenol; 100-500 nmolxL(-1)) prevented or delayed AD appearance induced by 7 or 30 min OGD and protected from the irreversible fepsp depression elicited by 7 min OGD. Two different selective adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonists, SCH58261 and SCH442416, were less effective than ZM241385 during 7 min OGD. The extent of CA1 cell injury was assessed 3 h after the end of 7 min OGD by propidium iodide. Substantial CA1 pyramidal neuronal damage occurred in untreated slices, exposed to OGD, whereas injury was significantly prevented by 100 nmolxL(-1) ZM241385. Glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) immunostaining showed that 3 h after 7 min OGD, astrogliosis was appreciable. Western blot analysis indicated an increase in GFAP 30 kDa fragment which was significantly reduced by treatment with 100 nmolxL(-1) ZM241385.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

In the CA1 hippocampus, antagonism of A(2A) adenosine receptors by ZM241385 was protective during OGD (a model of cerebral ischaemia) by delaying AD appearance, decreasing astrocyte activation and improving neuronal survival.

Pyrido[2,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazin-1-one as a new scaffold to develop potent and selective human A3 adenosine receptor antagonists. Synthesis, pharmacological evaluation, and ligand-receptor modeling studies

The paper describes a new class of human (h) A(3) adenosine receptor antagonists, the 2-arylpyrido[2,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazin-1-one derivatives (PTP), either 4-oxo (1-6, series A) or 4-amino-substituted (7-20, series B). In both series A and B, substituents able to act as hydrogen bond acceptors (OMe, OH, F, COOEt) were inserted on the 2-phenyl ring. In series B, cycloalkyl and acyl residues were introduced on the 4-amino group. Some of the new derivatives showed high hA(3) AR affinities (K(i) < 50 nM) and selectivities vs both hA(1) and hA(2A) receptors. The selected 4-benzoylamino-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyrido[2,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazin-1-one (18), tested in an in vitro rat model of cerebral ischemia, proved to be effective in preventing the failure of synaptic activity induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation in the hippocampus. Molecular docking of this new class of hA(3) AR antagonists was carried out to depict their hypothetical binding mode to our refined model of hA(3) receptor.

Medicinal chemistry of the A3 adenosine receptor: agonists, antagonists, and receptor engineering

A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)AR) ligands have been modified to optimize their interaction with the A(3)AR. Most of these modifications have been made to the N(6) and C2 positions of adenine as well as the ribose moiety, and using a combination of these substitutions leads to the most efficacious, selective, and potent ligands. A(3)AR agonists such as IB-MECA and Cl-IB-MECA are now advancing into Phase II clinical trials for treatments targeting diseases such as cancer, arthritis, and psoriasis. Also, a wide number of compounds exerting high potency and selectivity in antagonizing the human (h)A(3)AR have been discovered. These molecules are generally characterized by a notable structural diversity, taking into account that aromatic nitrogen-containing monocyclic (thiazoles and thiadiazoles), bicyclic (isoquinoline, quinozalines, (aza)adenines), tricyclic systems (pyrazoloquinolines, triazoloquinoxalines, pyrazolotriazolopyrimidines, triazolopurines, tricyclic xanthines) and nucleoside derivatives have been identified as potent and selective A(3)AR antagonists. Probably due to the "enigmatic" physiological role of A(3)AR, whose activation may produce opposite effects (for example, concerning tissue protection in inflammatory and cancer cells) and may produce effects that are species dependent, only a few molecules have reached preclinical investigation. Indeed, the most advanced A(3)AR antagonists remain in preclinical testing. Among the antagonists described above, compound OT-7999 is expected to enter clinical trials for the treatment of glaucoma, while several thiazole derivatives are in development as antiallergic, antiasthmatic and/or antiinflammatory drugs.

Adenosine receptors and neurological disease: neuroprotection and neurodegeneration

Adenosine receptors modulate neuronal and synaptic function in a range of ways that may make them relevant to the occurrence, development and treatment of brain ischemic damage and degenerative disorders. A(1) adenosine receptors tend to suppress neural activity by a predominantly presynaptic action, while A(2A) adenosine receptors are more likely to promote transmitter release and postsynaptic depolarization. A variety of interactions have also been described in which adenosine A(1) or A(2) adenosine receptors can modify cellular responses to conventional neurotransmitters or receptor agonists such as glutamate, NMDA, nitric oxide and P2 purine receptors. Part of the role of adenosine receptors seems to be in the regulation of inflammatory processes that often occur in the aftermath of a major insult or disease process. All of the adenosine receptors can modulate the release of cytokines such as interleukins and tumor necrosis factor-alpha from immune-competent leukocytes and glia. When examined directly as modifiers of brain damage, A(1) adenosine receptor (AR) agonists, A(2A)AR agonists and antagonists, as well as A(3)AR antagonists, can protect against a range of insults, both in vitro and in vivo. Intriguingly, acute and chronic treatments with these ligands can often produce diametrically opposite effects on damage outcome, probably resulting from adaptational changes in receptor number or properties. In some cases molecular approaches have identified the involvement of ERK and GSK-3beta pathways in the protection from damage. Much evidence argues for a role of adenosine receptors in neurological disease. Receptor densities are altered in patients with Alzheimer's disease, while many studies have demonstrated effects of adenosine and its antagonists on synaptic plasticity in vitro, or on learning adequacy in vivo. The combined effects of adenosine on neuronal viability and inflammatory processes have also led to considerations of their roles in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis, as well as the brain damage associated with stroke. In addition to the potential pathological relevance of adenosine receptors, there are earnest attempts in progress to generate ligands that will target adenosine receptors as therapeutic agents to treat some of these disorders.

The adenosine kinase hypothesis of epileptogenesis

Current therapies for epilepsy are largely symptomatic and do not affect the underlying mechanisms of disease progression, i.e. epileptogenesis. Given the large percentage of pharmacoresistant chronic epilepsies, novel approaches are needed to understand and modify the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms. Although different types of brain injury (e.g. status epilepticus, traumatic brain injury, stroke) can trigger epileptogenesis, astrogliosis appears to be a homotypic response and hallmark of epilepsy. Indeed, recent findings indicate that epilepsy might be a disease of astrocyte dysfunction. This review focuses on the inhibitory neuromodulator and endogenous anticonvulsant adenosine, which is largely regulated by astrocytes and its key metabolic enzyme adenosine kinase (ADK). Recent findings support the "ADK hypothesis of epileptogenesis": (i) Mouse models of epileptogenesis suggest a sequence of events leading from initial downregulation of ADK and elevation of ambient adenosine as an acute protective response, to changes in astrocytic adenosine receptor expression, to astrocyte proliferation and hypertrophy (i.e. astrogliosis), to consequential overexpression of ADK, reduced adenosine and - finally - to spontaneous focal seizure activity restricted to regions of astrogliotic overexpression of ADK. (ii) Transgenic mice overexpressing ADK display increased sensitivity to brain injury and seizures. (iii) Inhibition of ADK prevents seizures in a mouse model of pharmacoresistant epilepsy. (iv) Intrahippocampal implants of stem cells engineered to lack ADK prevent epileptogenesis. Thus, ADK emerges both as a diagnostic marker to predict, as well as a prime therapeutic target to prevent, epileptogenesis.