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Joel Linden
Published in Volume 116, Issue 7
J Clin Invest. 2006; 116(7):1835–1837 doi:10.1172/JCI29125
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Jci0629125
Figure 1
Anti- and proinflammatory effects mediated by activation of the A2B AR.

(A) In macrophages, the release of TNF-α and other proinflammatory cytokines is inhibited as a result of activating either the A2AAR or the A2BAR. These effects are amplified if TNF-α production is stimulated by LPS, which signals through TLR4 and other Toll-like receptors. Activation of the A2BAR also stimulates production of the antiinflammatory cytokine IL-10. (B) In endothelial cells and other cells noted in Table 1, activation of the A2BAR stimulates IL-6 and other proinflammatory cytokines. Hypoxia increases the intracellular production of adenosine, which is transported outside the cell by nucleoside transport proteins. Hypoxia and possibly activation of the A2BAR stimulate the release of ATP and the production of the A2BAR and ectoenzymes (CD39 and CD73) that convert ATP to adenosine. Vasodilation in response to A2BAR activation may increase shear stress to stimulate ATP release.