N Smith1, K J Broadley. 1. Department of Pharmacology, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Endogenous adenosine levels are raised in the lungs during asthma attacks. 5'-adenosine monophosphate (5'-AMP) inhalation in asthmatics causes bronchoconstriction and in sensitized guinea-pigs induces early (EAR) and late asthmatic responses (LAR), airway hyper-reactivity (AHR) and inflammatory cell recruitment to the lungs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of A(1), A(2A), A(2B) and A(3) adenosine receptors in these responses to inhaled 5'-AMP in sensitized guinea-pigs. Comparisons were made with the effect of dexamethasone treatment on 5'-AMP-induced responses. METHODS: Functional airways responses to inhaled 5'-AMP (3 and 300 mM) of actively sensitized, conscious guinea-pigs were determined by whole-body plethysmography following administration of selective adenosine receptor antagonists or their vehicles. AHR to inhaled histamine (1 mM) and inflammatory cell influx in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined. RESULTS: 5'-AMP at 3 mM caused an immediate bronchoconstriction (EAR), whereas 300 mM caused bronchodilatation. Both responses were followed at 6 h by a LAR, together with inflammatory cell influx and AHR to histamine. The A(2A) receptor antagonist, ZM241385, further enhanced cell influx after 5'-AMP inhalation (3 and 300 mM), and blocked the immediate bronchodilator response to 300 mM 5'-AMP, exposing an EAR. The A(2B) receptor antagonist, MRS1706 (in the presence of ZM241385), inhibited the LAR, AHR and cell influx, following inhalation of 5'-AMP (300 mM). The A(3) receptor antagonist, MRS1220, inhibited 5'-AMP-induced inflammatory cell influx. The A(1) receptor antagonist, DPCPX (in the presence of ZM241385), inhibited the EAR following 5'-AMP inhalation (300 mM). Dexamethasone inhibited the LAR, AHR and cell influx following inhalation of 5'-AMP (300 mM). CONCLUSION: All four adenosine receptor subtypes play various roles in the airways responses to inhaled 5'-AMP in sensitized guinea-pigs.
BACKGROUND: Endogenous adenosine levels are raised in the lungs during asthma attacks. 5'-adenosine monophosphate (5'-AMP) inhalation in asthmatics causes bronchoconstriction and in sensitized guinea-pigs induces early (EAR) and late asthmatic responses (LAR), airway hyper-reactivity (AHR) and inflammatory cell recruitment to the lungs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of A(1), A(2A), A(2B) and A(3) adenosine receptors in these responses to inhaled 5'-AMP in sensitized guinea-pigs. Comparisons were made with the effect of dexamethasone treatment on 5'-AMP-induced responses. METHODS: Functional airways responses to inhaled 5'-AMP (3 and 300 mM) of actively sensitized, conscious guinea-pigs were determined by whole-body plethysmography following administration of selective adenosine receptor antagonists or their vehicles. AHR to inhaled histamine (1 mM) and inflammatory cell influx in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined. RESULTS:5'-AMP at 3 mM caused an immediate bronchoconstriction (EAR), whereas 300 mM caused bronchodilatation. Both responses were followed at 6 h by a LAR, together with inflammatory cell influx and AHR to histamine. The A(2A) receptor antagonist, ZM241385, further enhanced cell influx after 5'-AMP inhalation (3 and 300 mM), and blocked the immediate bronchodilator response to 300 mM 5'-AMP, exposing an EAR. The A(2B) receptor antagonist, MRS1706 (in the presence of ZM241385), inhibited the LAR, AHR and cell influx, following inhalation of 5'-AMP (300 mM). The A(3) receptor antagonist, MRS1220, inhibited 5'-AMP-induced inflammatory cell influx. The A(1) receptor antagonist, DPCPX (in the presence of ZM241385), inhibited the EAR following 5'-AMP inhalation (300 mM). Dexamethasone inhibited the LAR, AHR and cell influx following inhalation of 5'-AMP (300 mM). CONCLUSION: All four adenosine receptor subtypes play various roles in the airways responses to inhaled 5'-AMP in sensitized guinea-pigs.