title: Blockade of A2A adenosine receptors prevents basic fibroblast growth factor-induced reactive astrogliosis in rat striatal primary astrocytes.
abstract: Previous literature data show that blockade of A(2A) adenosine receptors via selective antagonists induces protection in various models of neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanisms underlying this effect are still largely unknown. Since it is known that excessive reactive astrogliosis is a factor contributing to cell death in diseases characterized by neurodegenerative events, the present study has been aimed at determining whether selective A(2A) receptor antagonists can counteract the formation of reactive astrocytes induced in vitro by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a typical trigger of this reaction. Exposure of primary rat striatal astrocytes to the selective A(2A) antagonist SCH58261 resulted in concentration-dependent abolition of bFGF induction of astrogliosis in vitro. This effect could also be reproduced with the chemically unrelated A(2A) antagonist KW-6002. The direct activation of A(2A) adenosine receptors by selective receptor agonists was not sufficient per se to induce astrogliosis, suggesting that the A(2A) receptor needs to act in concert with other bFGF-induced genes to trigger the formation of reactive astrocytes. These results provide a mechanism at the basis of the neuroprotection induced by A(2A) receptor antagonists in models of brain damage and highlight this adenosine receptor subtype as a novel target for the pharmacological modulation of the gliotic reaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cottini
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ceruti
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Abbracchio
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D058908:Adenosine A2 Receptor Agonists; D058917:Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists; D019830:Adenosine-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamide) / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005911:Gliosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D043705:Receptor, Adenosine A2A / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C098657:5-amino-7-(2-phenylethyl)-2-(2-furyl)pyrazolo(4,3-e)-1,2,4-triazolo(1,5-c)pyrimidine; D058908:Adenosine A2 Receptor Agonists; D058917:Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010627:Phenethylamines; D011687:Purines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043705:Receptor, Adenosine A2A; D014230:Triazoles; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C061282:2-(4-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino)-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine; C111599:istradefylline; D019830:Adenosine-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamide); D000241:Adenosine