Adenosine receptor

[11] These compounds also act as phosphodiesterase inhibitors, which produces additional anti-inflammatory effects, and makes them medically useful for the treatment of conditions such as asthma, but less suitable for use in scientific research.

[12] Newer adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists are much more potent and subtype-selective, and have allowed extensive research into the effects of blocking or stimulating the individual adenosine receptor subtypes, which is now resulting in a new generation of more selective drugs with many potential medical uses.

The A1, together with A2A receptors of endogenous adenosine play a role in regulating myocardial oxygen consumption and coronary blood flow.

This makes adenosine a useful medication for treating and diagnosing tachyarrhythmias, or excessively fast heart rates.

However, in altered cardiac function, such as hypoperfusion caused by hypotension, heart attack or cardiac arrest caused by nonperfusing bradycardias (e.g., ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia[16]), adenosine has a negative effect on physiological functioning by preventing necessary compensatory increases in heart rate and blood pressure that attempt to maintain cerebral perfusion.

Adenosine antagonists are widely used in neonatal medicine; A reduction in A1 expression appears to prevent hypoxia-induced ventriculomegaly and loss of white matter, which raises the possibility that pharmacological blockade of A1 may have clinical utility.

[17] Studies have found that blockade of the A1 Receptor suppresses the osteoclast function, leading to increased bone density.

[18] As with the A1, the A2A receptors are believed to play a role in regulating myocardial oxygen consumption and coronary blood flow.

[24] The cell signalling involved in the stimulation of the A2B receptor directs the route of differentiation to osteoblast, rather than chondrocyte via the Runx2 gene expression.

[24] Potential therapeutic application in aiding bone degenerative diseases, age related changes as well as injury repair.