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Uptake of free adenosine and adenosine from adenosine monophosphate by human peripheral blood lymphocytes: possible kinetic role for ecto-5'-nucleotidase in the regulation of intracellular adenosine.

The role of 5'-nucleotidase in the uptake of adenosine from AMP was investigated in lymphocytes from normal subjects and patients with common variable hypogammaglobulinaemia (CVH) and chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL). At physiological pH, the Km values for the uptake of adenosine and of adenosine from AMP by intact cells were one order of magnitude higher than the Km values for 5'-nucleotidase. The Vmax values for the hydrolysis of AMP by 5'-nucleotidase were two orders of magnitude greater than for the uptake of adenosine itself or the uptake of adenosine from AMP by normal lymphocytes. 5'-Nucleotidase activity is clearly not rate-limiting in normal lymphocytes for uptake of adenosine from AMP in steady state conditions. Patients with common variable hypogammaglobulinaemia showed a low Vmax for 5'-nucleotidase assayed at pH 7.4 in intact cells as compared to values from control subjects. Michaelis constants (Km) for the uptake of free adenosine and adenosine from AMP as well as 5'-nucleotidase were similar compared to those obtained for controls. The uptake of adenosine moiety from AMP in CLL lymphocytes with a low Vmax for 5'-nucleotidase was also reduced, although not to the same extent as the reduction in 5'-nucleotidase activity. One CLL patient with supranormal levels of 5'-nucleotidase activity showed elevated uptake of adenosine moiety from AMP and of free adenosine. These results suggest that 5'-nucleotidase can influence the salvage of purine by lymphocytes from extracellular nucleotides but only when the enzyme activity is greatly reduced.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

A calcium ion-dependent adenosine triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase in plasma membrane from rat liver. Demonstration that the adenosine triphosphate analogues adenosine 5'-[betagamma-imido]triphosphate and adenosine 5'-[betagamma-methylene]-triphosphate are substrates for the enzyme.

An ATP pyrophosphohydrolase in a rat liver plasma-membrane subfraction was studied with respect to specific Ca2+ activation of the beta-phosphate bond hydrolysis. ATP and, in addition, adenosine 5'-[betagamma-imido]triphosphate and adenosine 5'-[betagamma-methlylene]triphosphate were substrates for Ca2+-stimulated enzymic hydrolysis of the beta-phosphate bond. A 15-fold activation was observed by raising the free Ca2+ concentration from 10(-7) to 10(-5) M. Mg2+ had little effect. Solubilization in 1% deoxycholate and partial purification on a sucrose density gradient resulted in a 5-fold increase in specific activity with unaltered Ca2+-stimulation pattern. The possible importance of the enzyme in Ca2+ transport is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Involvement of adenosine deaminase and adenosine kinase in regulating extracellular adenosine concentration in rat hippocampal slices.

In this study the relative importance of adenosine deaminase and adenosine kinase in regulating extracellular adenosine concentration was investigated in rat hippocampal slices labelled with [3H]-adenine. The release of [3H]-purines evoked by electrical stimulation or energy depletion (oxygen and glucose deprivation) was measured and, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the proportion of [3H]-label in the form of [3H]-adenosine, [3H]-inosine and [3H]-hypoxanthine was determined. In addition, endogenous purine release was measured by HPLC with UV detection. 10 microM 5-iodotubericidin (5-IT), an inhibitor of adenosine kinase, significantly increased endogenous adenosine release and altered the pattern of [3H]-purine release by increasing the proportion released as [3H]-adenosine, under basal conditions and after electrical stimulation or energy depletion. 5 microM erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenosine (EHNA), an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, also increased endogenous adenosine release and altered the pattern of [3H]-purine release evoked by energy depletion by decreasing the proportion of [3H]-label released as [3H]-hypoxanthine and [3H]-inosine, whilst approximately doubling that of [3H]-adenosine. In contrast, adenosine release was not altered by EHNA under basal conditions or electrical stimulation. It is concluded that under conditions which provide adequate oxygen and glucose, adenosine kinase plays a much greater role than adenosine deaminase in regulating the extracellular concentration of adenosine. However, adenosine deaminase becomes important in regulating extracellular adenosine concentration when adenosine formation is increased by energy depletion.

Adenine↗

Characterization of N1- and N6-adenosine adducts and N1-inosine adducts formed by the reaction of butadiene monoxide with adenosine: evidence for the N1-adenosine adducts as major initial products.

1,3-Butadiene is a known human mutagen and possible human carcinogen; however, the molecular mechanisms of its activity are poorly understood. We have previously shown that the primary metabolite, butadiene monoxide (BM), reacts with guanosine to form N1-, N2-, and N7-guanosine adducts. In this study we characterize the reaction of BM with adenosine; ten adducts identified as diastereomeric pairs of N1-(1-hydroxy-3-buten-2-yl)adenosine,N1-(2-hydroxy-3-buten-1 -yl)adenosine, N6-(1-hydroxy-3-buten-2-yl)adenosine,N6-(2-hydroxy-3-buten-+ ++1yl)adenosine, and N1-(1-hydroxy-3-buten-2-yl)inosine are characterized. The N6-adenosine and N1-inosine adducts were characterized by their UV spectra, 1H NMR, FAB/MS, and stability studies. The N6-adenosine and N1-inosine adducts were stable for up to 168 h at 37 degrees C in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The N1-adenosine adducts, which were unstable at pH 7.4 at 37 degrees C (half-life of 7 and 9.5 h for the two regioisomers), were characterized by their UV spectra and their ability to undergo the Dimroth rearrangement to yield the corresponding N6-adenosine adducts, or undergo deamination to yield the corresponding N1-inosine adducts. Upon the reaction of BM with adenosine in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C, the N1-adenosine adducts were the first to be detected, with the N6-adenosine and N1-inosine adducts. showing a lag in formation possibly due to the time needed for rearrangement/deamination. Reaction of adenosine with an excess of BM in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C, followed by extraction of the reaction mixture with ethyl ether to remove excess unreacted BM and incubation at 80 degrees C for 1 h, resulted in complete conversion of N1-adenosine adducts to the corresponding N6-adenosine and N1-inosine adducts. Under these conditions, adduct formation exhibited pseudo-first-order kinetics, with the combined N6-adenosine adducts being formed 3-fold more favorably than the combined N1-inosine adducts. When incubations were carried out at lower BM concentrations, the N6-adenosine adducts remained the major detectable adducts at all concentrations. These results show that adenosine, in addition to guanosine, can lead to multiple adducts when incubated with BM, and may be useful in development of biomarkers for exposure to 1,3-butadiene. Characterization of the N1-adenosine adducts and their rearrangement/deamination products may also contribute to the understanding of mutagenic and carcinogenic mechanisms of 1,3-butadiene.

Adenosine↗

Potentiation of excitatory amino acid-evoked adenosine release from rat cortex by inhibitors of adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase and by acadesine.

Endogenous extracellular adenosine provides some protection against excitotoxicity in the central nervous system, but it appears to be incomplete. Potentiating the formation of extracellular adenosine that occurs when excitatory amino acid receptors are activated might provide additional protection. We studied the effects of AICAR (AICA riboside, acadesine) and of inhibitors of adenosine metabolism on the release of adenosine from rat cortical slices. AICAR had no effects on basal N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)- or (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxasole propionic acid (AMPA)-evoked adenosine release, but it increased kainate-evoked adenosine release 1.4-fold. This selective action of AICAR may make it useful for treating kainate receptor-mediated excitotoxicity. Inhibition of adenosine kinase with either 20 microM 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine or 5'-iodotubercidin had a much greater effect on excitatory amino acid-evoked adenosine release than on basal adenosine release. Inhibition of adenosine kinase increased excitatory amino acid-evoked adenosine release 3-7-fold whereas inhibition of adenosine deaminase only increased evoked adenosine release 2-2.5-fold. Finally, 0.2 microM 5'-iodotubercidin and 200 microM 2'-deoxycoformycin caused similar increases in the basal rates of extracellular adenosine formation, but 5'-iodotubercidin produced over twice as much potentiation of the rate of NMDA-evoked adenosine formation than did 2'-deoxycoformycin. These findings suggest that adenosine kinase inhibitors may produce an event-specific potentiation of evoked adenosine formation, i.e. more effect on evoked formation than on basal formation. If so, adenosine kinase inhibitors may prove useful for preventing/treating diseases associated with excessive excitation in the brain, such as seizures, excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration.

Adenosine↗

Increases in interstitial adenosine and cerebral blood flow with inhibition of adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase.

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in interstitial fluid (ISF) adenosine and cerebral blood flow (CBF) during inhibition of adenosine kinase or adenosine deaminase. Brain microdialysis was used to (a) measure CBF (H2 clearance), (b) sample cerebral ISF, and (c) deliver drugs locally to the brain. Microdialysis probes were implanted bilaterally in the caudate nucleus of halothane-anesthetized rats (n = 11). One probe was perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) containing iodotubercidin (IODO), an adenosine kinase inhibitor, while the other probe was perfused with erythro-2-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA), an adenosine deaminase inhibitor. Both probes were subsequently perfused with EHNA+IODO. Finally, 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline (SPT), an adenosine receptor antagonist, was added to EHNA + IODO in one probe, while the other probe continued to receive only EHNA + IODO. CBF and dialysate adenosine levels increased with either EHNA or IODO; however, the increases were greater with IODO. EHNA + IODO further increased CBF and dialysate adenosine. The hyperemia observed with EHNA + IODO was abolished by adenosine receptor blockade. These data suggest that basal adenosine levels are influenced to a greater extent by adenosine kinase than by adenosine deaminase. In addition, the increased CBF observed with inhibition of adenosine metabolism and the attenuation of this vasodilatory response with adenosine receptor blockade support a role for adenosine in CBF regulation.

Adenine↗

Effect of aging on myocardial adenosine production, adenosine uptake and adenosine kinase activity in rats.

Adenosine levels present in the interstitial fluid and coronary effluent of the aged heart exceed those of the young adult heart. The present study investigated mechanisms in the Fischer 344 rat heart which may be responsible for the observed differences. (1) Total production of adenosine was determined in isolated perfused hearts by measuring coronary effluent adenosine content while inhibiting adenosine deamination and rephosphorylation with erythrohydroxy-nonyladenosine (EHNA) and iodotubercidin (ITC), respectively. Total adenosine production was similar in both young (3-4 month) and aged (20-21 month) hearts at 31.8 +/- 6.6 and 38.4 +/- 3.3 nmol/min/g dry wt, respectively. However, stimulation with the beta-adrenergic agent, isoproterenol, elicited a significantly greater increase in adenosine production in the young vs. aged heart. (2) Adenosine transport was evaluated in isolated perfused hearts by determining 14C uptake by the myocardium after 20 min of 14C-adenosine perfusion. Adenosine uptake in the agent-free heart was found to be decreased 17 to 25% in aged compared to young adult hearts. (3) Adenosine transport characteristics were determined with nitrobenzylthioinosine saturation-binding studies in ventricular membrane preparations. The Bmax values were significantly lower in aged than young adult hearts (140.2 +/- 1.5 fmol/mg and 191.9 +/- 2.3 fmol/mg in aged and young hearts, respectively) indicating a decreased number of transporter sites in the aged heart. However, the values for Kd were decreased with aging, suggesting an increase in the affinity of the transporter for adenosine in the aged vs. young adult heart. (4) The activities and kinetics of adenosine kinase were determined in homogenates of aged and young adult ventricular myocardium. No statistical difference was found between the two activities. Taken together these results suggest that increased interstitial adenosine levels in the aged heart result from decreased uptake of adenosine by the ventricular myocardium.

Adenosine↗

Potentiation of formalin-evoked adenosine release by an adenosine kinase inhibitor and an adenosine deaminase inhibitor in the rat hind paw: a microdialysis study.

The present study examined the effects of local subcutaneous administration of formalin on adenosine release from the rat hind paw, and the effects of inhibitors of adenosine metabolism on such release. Microdialysis probes were inserted into the subcutaneous tissue of the plantar surface of rat hind paws. Samples were collected every 10 min at a perfusion rate of 2 microl/min and high performance liquid chromatography was used to measure adenosine levels. At lower concentrations of formalin (0.5-2.5%), a significant increase in adenosine levels was observed in the first 10 min after formalin injection, while at the highest concentration of formalin (5%), the increase in adenosine release was observed over 60 min. Co-administration of the adenosine kinase inhibitor 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine (100 nmol) with formalin, significantly increased adenosine release evoked by 0.5-1.5% formalin, but did not produce a further enhancement of release evoked by 5% formalin. The adenosine deaminase inhibitor 2'-deoxycoformycin (100 nmol) significantly increased adenosine levels at 5% formalin but had no effect at lower concentrations of formalin. In confirmation of previous studies, subcutaneous injection of formalin (0.5-5%) produced a characteristic biphasic concentration-related expression of nociceptive behaviours and an increase in paw volume. This study directly demonstrates that formalin can evoke a concentration-dependent local release of adenosine from the rat hind paw. The ability of an adenosine kinase inhibitor and an adenosine deaminase inhibitor to modulate this release is dependent on substrate adenosine concentrations.

Adenosine↗

Interstitial adenosine with dipyridamole: effect of adenosine receptor blockade and adenosine deaminase.

Dipyridamole is proposed to increase coronary blood flow (CBF) by inhibition of adenosine uptake into cells, resulting in an increase in interstitial fluid (ISF) adenosine and an adenosine-mediated vasodilation. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in CBF and ISF adenosine, inosine, and hypoxanthine during dipyridamole infusion in the absence or presence of adenosine receptor blockade or adenosine deaminase. To sample cardiac ISF, cardiac microdialysis probes were implanted in the left ventricular myocardium of chloralose-urethan-anesthetized dogs and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer. The metabolite concentration in the effluent dialysate was used as an index of intramyocardial ISF metabolite concentration. In response to dipyridamole, CBF and dialysate adenosine concentration increased 4.4-fold and 2.2-fold, respectively, whereas dialysate inosine was unchanged and dialysate hypoxanthine decreased 50%. Adenosine receptor blockade, achieved by intracoronary 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline infusion, attenuated the increase in CBF induced by dipyridamole without changing dialysate adenosine concentration. Adenosine deaminase fully attenuated the dipyridamole-induced increases in CBF and dialysate adenosine. These results demonstrate that dipyridamole increases ISF adenosine in the dog and suggest that adenosine is the sole mediator of dipyridamole-induced coronary vasodilation.

Adenosine↗

Adenosine kinase as a new selective marker in somatic cell genetics: isolation of adenosine kinase--deficient mouse cell lines and human--mouse hybrid cell lines containing adenosine kinase.

A new selective system for isolating somatic cell hybrids, using adenosine kinase as the selective marker, has been developed. The selective medium for forward selection (to select for cells containing adenosine kinase) contains alanosine, adenosine and uridine. To survive in the presence of alanosine, cells must have adenosine kinase in order to utilize exogenous adenosine as the sole source of AMP. Uridine is added to the selective medium to prevent the toxic effects of adenosine on cultured mammalian cells. The selective medium for reverse selection (to select for cells lacking adenosine kinase) contains 2-fluoroadenosine, an analogue of adenosine, which is converted to a toxic nucleotide by the action of adenosine kinase. Mouse mutant cell lines deficient in adenosine kinase have been derived. Human--mouse hybrid cells containing the kinase have been prepared from one of these mutant lines. Karyotype data of these hygrid lines and their adenosine kinase-minus sublines are consistent with assignment by others of the human gene for adenosine kinase on chromosome 10.

Adenosine↗

Activities and some properties of 5'-nucleotidase, adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase in tissues from vertebrates and invertebrates in relation to the control of the concentration and the physiological role of adenosine.

1. The maximal activities of 5'-nucleotidase, adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase together with the Km values for their respective substrates were measured in muscle, nervous tissue and liver from a large range of animals to provide information on the mechanism of control of adenosine concentration in the tissues. 2. Detailed evidence that the methods used were optimal for the extraction and assay of these enzymes has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50088 (16pages) at the British Library Lending Division, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K.,from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem. J. (1978), 169, 5. This evidence includes the effects of pH and temperature on the activities of the enzymes. 3. In many tissues, the activities of 5'-nucleotidase were considerably higher than the sum of the activities of adenosine kinase and deaminase, which suggests that the activity of the nucleotidase must be markedly inhibited in vivo so that adenosine does not accumulate. In the tissues in which comparison is possible, the Km of the nucleotidase is higher than the AMP content of the tissue, and since some of the latter may be bound within the cell, the low concentration of substrate may, in part, be responsible for a low activity in vivo. 4. In most tissues and animals investigated, the values of the Km of adenosine kinase for adenosine are between one and two orders of magnitude lower than those for the deaminase. It is suggested that 5'-nucleotidase and adenosine kinase are simultaneously active so that a substrate cycle between AMP and adenosine is produced: the difference in Km values between kinase and deaminase indicates that, via the cycle, small changes in activity of kinase or nucleotidase produce large changes in adenosine concentration. 5. The activities of adenosine kinase or deaminase from vertebrate muscles are inversely correlated with the activities of phosphorylase in these muscles. Since the magnitude of the latter activities are indicative of the anaerobic nature of muscles, this negative correlation supports the hypothesis that an important role of adenosine is the regulation of blood flow in the aerobic muscles.

Adenosine↗

An adenosine A1 receptor agonist, R(-)-N-(2-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (PIA), but not adenosine itself, acts as a therapeutic preconditioning-mimetic agent in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: A preconditioning mimetic agent could be useful therapy for cardiac ischaemic events; stimulation of adenosine receptors has been proposed as a preconditioning mediator. The ability of adenosine-receptor activation to mimic ischaemic preconditioning was tested in an in vivo rabbit model. METHODS: Adenosine (15 mg, a maximally tolerated dose, n = 10) was infused over six minutes via a coronary artery and compared with saline (n = 12) in anaesthetised rabbits. Five minutes after infusion, a coronary artery was occluded for 40 minutes followed by three hours of reperfusion. In a second study, preischaemic intravenous treatment with adenosine (25 mg.kg-1, n = 9), or an A1-adenosine agonist, R(-)-N-(2-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (PIA, 900 micrograms.kg-1, n = 12), were compared with saline (n = 12), when given before 40 minutes of coronary artery ligation and three hours of reperfusion in anaesthetised rabbits. RESULTS: Intracoronary adenosine reduced mean arterial pressure during infusion (48(3) v 80(4) mm Hg, control, p < 0.001); however, infusion regional myocardial blood flow was significantly higher in adenosine treated hearts (5.00(0.90) v 2.30(0.26) ml.min-1 x g-1, p < 0.02) in the region later to become ischaemic. During occlusion ischaemic blood flow was similar in both groups as was the size of the ischaemic risk region, expressed as a % of the left ventricle (42(3)% adenosine and 37(3)% control, NS). Intracoronary adenosine treatment failed to reduce infarct size (52(5)% of the risk zone v 57(7)% in controls, NS). In the second protocol, heart rate immediately after treatment was reduced by both intravenous denosine (26%) and PIA (22%) v control, indicating atrial A1 receptor activation. Treatment with PIA resulted in a significant reduction in ultimate infarct size compared with saline (38(5)% of risk region v 57(5)%, p < 0.05). Adenosine, however, failed to reduce infarct size (50(8)%, NS v saline). There were no differences between area at risk or myocardial blood flow among groups. CONCLUSION: The adenosine agonist PIA but not adenosine itself might be a useful adjunctive therapy.

Adenosine↗

Effect of adenosine, adenosine analogues and drugs inhibiting adenosine inactivation on lipolysis in rat fat cells.

It has been suggested that adenosine may be a physiologically important modulator of lipolysis. In the present study it was found that adenosine inhibited lipolysis stimulated by low (0.03 micrometer) concentrations of noradrenaline (NA). Lipolysis stimulated by higher concentrations (0.3 and 3 micrometer) of NA was inhibited to a minor degree or not at all. Theophylline (1 micromete)-induced lipolysis was inhibited by adenosine (IC50 approximately 10 micrometer). Inhibition of theophylline-induced lipolysis was tested for several analogues of adenosine. Some N6-substituted adenosine analogues and 2-Cl-adenosine were more potent inhibitors. Adenine-nucleotides (ATP, ADP, AMP) were about equipotent with adenosine. Several adenosine analogues, including its breakdown products were considerably less potent or ineffective. None of the analogues tested inhibited the action of adenosine. Dipyridamol, dilazep and papaverine, which inhibit the uptake of adenosine into cells, caused only a slight enhancement of the antilipolytic effect of adenosine. None of the analogues inhibited the effect of adenosine. It is concluded that adenosine can inhibit lipolysis due to low, "physiological" concentrations of noradrenaline and of low concentration of theophylline via an action on a receptor structure on the cell surface which exhibits structural specificity.

Adenosine↗

Adenosine metabolism during phorbol myristate acetate-mediated induction of HL-60 cell differentiation: changes in expression pattern of adenosine kinase, adenosine deaminase, and 5'-nucleotidase.

Adenosine has potent immunosuppressive activity. Since the source of adenosine and the mechanism of its release in the immune system is largely unknown and may vary according to cell type, we have evaluated the relationship between adenosine metabolism and the enzymatic activities and mRNA levels of adenosine-metabolizing enzymes in myeloid and lymphoid cell lines. Induction of HL-60 cell differentiation along the macrophage lineage by PMA resulted in a reduction in the activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA), adenosine kinase (AK), and inosine monophosphate-specific cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase and an elevation of ecto-5'-nucleotidase (ecto-5'-NT). These changes were accompanied by an elevation of ecto-5'-NT mRNA and a decrease in ADA and AK mRNAs in a time-dependent fashion. Comparison of AK and ADA mRNA levels in several other leukemic cell lines revealed generally similar responses to PMA with much stronger suppression in immature T cells than in B cells. The metabolism of adenosine either through phosphorylation (AK) or deamination (ADA) was reduced in PMA-stimulated cells. Furthermore, the cumulative changes in enzyme expression resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in intracellular adenosine formation in PMA-stimulated cells. The inhibition of AK by 5'-iodotubercidin further increased adenosine formation by 6-fold over that in untreated cells. In accord with the increase in ecto-5'-NT activity, extracellular AMP dephosphorylation increased dramatically, but there was no increase in extracellular ATP degradation. These results indicate that a coordinated shift in adenosine-metabolizing enzyme levels during PMA-induced HL-60 cell differentiation is accompanied by a decrease in adenosine uptake and an increase in adenosine release.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Localization of adenosine deaminase and adenosine deaminase complexing protein in rabbit heart. Implications for adenosine metabolism.

The distribution of adenosine deaminase and adenosine deaminase complexing protein in rabbit heart has been compared using immunohistochemical staining procedures. Sections (4-5 microns) of tissue fixed in Clarke's solution or paraformaldehyde and embedded in paraffin were stained by the peroxidase anti-peroxidase method for adenosine deaminase or complexing protein, using affinity purified antibodies. Staining for adenosine deaminase and complexing protein was observed in the central myocardium of all heart chambers. Adenosine deaminase was detected in endothelial cells of blood vessels and adjacent pericytes. The nuclei of arteries stained heavily for adenosine deaminase, whereas those of venules and small veins, although positive, stained much more lightly. The cytoplasm of blood vessel endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of the tunica media were also weakly positive for adenosine deaminase. Endothelial cells of the endocardium and epicardium did not stain. Randomly distributed mononuclear inflammatory cells and interstitial connective tissue fibroblasts were also negative for adenosine deaminase. These results raise the possibility that endothelial cells containing adenosine deaminase could serve as a metabolic barrier preventing the free exchange of plasma and interstitial adenosine. Positive staining for complexing protein was restricted to blood vessel endothelial cells, especially cytoplasmic processes. Colocalization experiments carried out with biotinylated primary antibodies indicate that some vessels are positive for both adenosine deaminase and complexing protein. This is the first experimental evidence of possible in situ association of adenosine deaminase and complexing protein.

Adenosine↗

Adenosine receptor-mediated effects by nonmetabolizable adenosine analogs in preovulatory rat granulosa cells: a putative local regulatory role of adenosine in the ovary.

The influence of nonmetabolizable adenosine analogs on cAMP production was investigated in preovulatory rat granulosa cells. 5'-(N-ethyl)Carboxamido-adenosine (NECA), a stimulatory A2-adenosine receptor agonist, stimulated cAMP accumulation, and NECA and 2-chloro-adenosine also potentiated the response to FSH. The adenosine receptor antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline antagonized the effect of NECA, shown by a shift in the dose-response curve to the right. The stimulatory effect of NECA was also seen in an ovarian membrane preparation, where NECA stimulated adenylate cyclase in both the presence and absence of FSH. The stimulatory effect of NECA was also decreased by 8-phenyltheophylline in this preparation. The A1-receptor agonists N6-(R-phenyl-isopropyl)-adenosine (R-PIA) and N6-(S-phenyl-isopropyl)-adenosine (S-PIA) both inhibited FSH-stimulated cAMP accumulation. The inhibitory effects of R-PIA and S-PIA, but not the stimulatory effects of NECA, could be counteracted by dipyridamole, a nucleoside transport inhibitor. Furthermore, R-PIA and S-PIA inhibited adenosine uptake into granulosa cells. Thus, the inhibitory effects of R-PIA and S-PIA are not likely to be mediated via membrane-bound inhibitory A1-adenosine receptors. Neither the stimulatory effects of NECA nor the inhibitory effects of R- and S-PIA could be attributed to changes in ATP levels, since the ATP levels were unaffected by these analogs. The results of this study indicate the existence of stimulatory A2-adenosine receptors in preovulatory rat granulosa cells and suggest a membrane-associated modulatory role of adenosine in preovulatory granulosa cells.

2-Chloroadenosine↗

Modulation of adenosine release from rat spinal cord by adenosine deaminase and adenosine kinase inhibitors.

Adenosine, a modulator of pain processing in the spinal cord, is metabolized by adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase. In this study we determined which of these mechanisms is more important for the regulation of endogenous adenosine levels in the rat spinal cord. The effects of the adenosine kinase inhibitors, 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine (NH2dAD) and iodotubercidin (IOT), and the adenosine deaminase inhibitor, 2'-deoxycoformycin (DCF), on adenosine release in a spinal cord superfusion model were studied. DCF markedly increased basal adenosine levels detected in perfusates and was more potent than NH2dAD and IOT in this regard. Coadministration of DCF with NH2dAD produced an enhanced effect compared to the inhibitors alone. NH2dAD, but not DCF, potentiated morphine-evoked adenosine release. These results suggest that adenosine deaminase may be the predominant pathway for adenosine metabolism in this experimental model.

Adenosine↗