Adenosine modulates Toll-like receptor function: basic mechanisms and translational opportunities

Abstract

Adenosine is an endogenous purine metabolite whose concentration in human blood plasma rises from nanomolar to micromolar concentrations during the inflammatory process. Leukocytes express seven-transmembrane adenosine receptors whose engagement modulates Toll-like receptor-mediated cytokine responses, in part via modulation of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Adenosine analogs are used clinically to treat arrhythmias and apnea of prematurity. Herein, we consider the potential of adenosine analogs as innate immune response modifiers to prevent and/or treat infection.

Keywords::

• adenosine
• cAMP
• CD39
• CD73
• innate immunity
• Toll-like receptors

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Ofer Levy’s laboratory is funded by NIH RO1 AI067353-01A1 and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Melanie R Power Coombs is supported by a fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research FRN# 87745. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.