Adenosine receptor

The adenosine receptor (pronounced: ad-uh-no-seen ree-sep-ter) is a class of purinergic G protein-coupled receptors with adenosine as their endogenous ligand.

Etymology

The term "adenosine receptor" is derived from the Greek words "adenos" meaning gland and "ine" meaning pertaining to, combined with the Latin word "receptor" meaning receiver.

Function

The adenosine receptor mediates the pharmacological effects of adenosine. These receptors play a role in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues, influencing processes such as vasodilation, bronchoconstriction, and immune response.

There are four types of adenosine receptors: A1, A2A, A2B, and A3. Each type has a different function and is found in different areas of the body.

A1 receptor - These receptors are found in the brain, heart, and fat cells. They inhibit adenylyl cyclase activity and decrease cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels.

A2A receptor - These receptors are found in the brain, blood vessels, and immune cells. They stimulate adenylyl cyclase activity and increase cAMP levels.

A2B receptor - These receptors are found in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and immune cells. They have a low affinity for adenosine and are only activated by high concentrations of the ligand.

A3 receptor - These receptors are found in the eyes, liver, and immune cells. They inhibit adenylyl cyclase activity and decrease cAMP levels.

Related terms

Adenosine - A nucleoside composed of a molecule of adenine attached to a ribose sugar molecule.

G protein-coupled receptor - A large protein family of receptors that sense molecules outside the cell and activate internal signal transduction pathways.

Purinergic receptor - A family of plasma membrane molecules involved in several cellular functions such as regulation of the immune system, and inflammation.

Adenylyl cyclase - An enzyme with key regulatory roles in essentially all cells.

cAMP - Cyclic adenosine monophosphate, a second messenger important in many biological processes.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Adenosine receptor
Wikipedia's article - Adenosine receptor

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Adenosine receptor