title: Molecular implications of adenosine in obesity.
abstract: Adenosine has broad activities in organisms due to the existence of multiple receptors, the differential adenosine concentrations necessary to activate these receptors and the presence of proteins able to synthetize, degrade or transport this nucleoside. All adenosine receptors have been reported to be involved in glucose homeostasis, inflammation, adipogenesis, insulin resistance, and thermogenesis, indicating that adenosine could participate in the process of obesity. Since adenosine seems to be associated with several effects, it is plausible that adenosine participates in the initiation and development of obesity or may function to prevent it. Thus, the purpose of this review was to explore the involvement of adenosine in adipogenesis, insulin resistance and thermogenesis, with the aim of understanding how adenosine could be used to avoid, treat or improve the metabolic state of obesity. Treatment with specific agonists and/or antagonists of adenosine receptors could reverse the obesity state, since adenosine receptors normalizes several mechanisms involved in obesity, such as lipolysis, insulin sensitivity and thermogenesis. Furthermore, obesity is a preventable state, and the specific activation of adenosine receptors could aid in the prevention of obesity. Nevertheless, for the treatment of obesity and its consequences, more studies and therapeutic strategies in addition to adenosine are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Metabolic Diseases Research Laboratory, Center of Research, Development and Innovation in Health - Aconcagua Valley, San Felipe Campus, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaiso, 2172972 San Felipe, Chile; Cellular and Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile. Electronic address: fabian.pardo@uv.cl.
authors.forename: Fabián
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villalobos-Labra
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile.
authors.forename: Delia I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Chiarello
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville E-41012, Spain.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salsoso
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile; Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán 3780000, Chile.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile; Cellular Signaling Differentiation and Regeneration Laboratory, Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad San Sebastian, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leiva
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330024, Chile; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville E-41012, Spain; University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4029, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: sobrevia@med.puc.cl.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sobrevia
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000235:genetics*; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000235:genetics; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1 / Q000235:genetics*; D022722:Thermogenesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1; D000241:Adenosine
keywords: Adenosine; Adenosine receptor; Adipogenesis; Insulin resistance; Obesity; Thermogenesis