Adenosine A2a receptor agonists as regulators of inflammation: pharmacology and therapeutic opportunities

A2a receptor (A2aR) plays an important role in the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses. The activation of PKA-dependent and/or -independent pathways are responsible for the downmodulation of inflammatory networks and tissue injury. Based on promising recent studies, selective A2aR agonists are under clinical investigations for a wide range of disorders, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, chronic inflammation, and infectious diseases. Nevertheless, further studies are required to improve our understanding in the ability of A2a receptor agonists to reduce tissue damage during inflammation. Characterization of A2aR-induced signaling pathways will be useful for the development of novel therapeutic strategies in inflammatory/immune diseases.