Targeting of adenosine receptors in ischemia-reperfusion injury.
BACKGROUND
Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a common problem after transplantation as well as myocardial infarction and stroke. IR initiates an inflammatory response leading to rapid tissue damage. Adenosine, produced in response to IR, is generally considered a protective signaling molecule and elicits its physiological responses through four distinct adenosine receptors. The short half-life, lack of specificity and rapid metabolism limits the use of adenosine as a therapeutic agent. Thus, intense research efforts have focused on the synthesis and implementation of specific adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists as potential therapeutic agents for a variety of inflammatory conditions including IR injury.


METHODS
Current knowledge on IR injury with a focus on lung, heart and kidney and studies that have advanced our understanding of the role of adenosine receptors and the therapeutic potential of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists for the prevention of IR injury.


RESULTS
Insight into the role of adenosine receptor signaling in IR injury.


CONCLUSIONS
No therapies are currently available that specifically target IR injury; however, targeting of specific adenosine receptors may offer therapeutic strategies in this regard.
University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, 22908, USA. laubach@virginia.edu
Victor E
VE
Laubach
Brent A
BA
French
Mark D
MD
Okusa
D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D058906:Purinergic P1 Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D058915:Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
D058906:Purinergic P1 Receptor Agonists; D058915:Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1; D000241:Adenosine