title: Adenosine and anergy.
abstract: T cells must integrate multiple environmental cues when deciding whether to mount an immunogenic or tolerogenic response. Since not all self-reactive T cells are eliminated during thymic development, mechanisms of peripheral tolerance such as T cell anergy contribute to preventing autoimmunity. Recent studies have implicated extracellular adenosine and the adenosine A(2A) receptor as playing an important role in inhibiting T cell effector function. Herein, we review the current literature regarding T cell anergy and the emerging literature implicating the A(2A) receptor as critical regulator of immune activation. Finally, we present evidence to suggest a possible role for adenosine A(2A) receptor signaling in T cell anergy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Zarek
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D043683:Receptors, Adenosine A2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D043683:Receptors, Adenosine A2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D000241:Adenosine