Accumulation of adenosine and of deoxyadenosine in the absence of adenosine deaminase activity (ADA) activity results in lymphocyte depletion and in severe combined immunodeficiency (ADA SCID), which is currently explained by direct cell death-causing effects of intracellular products of adenosine metabolism. We explored the alternative mechanisms of peripheral T-cell depletion as due to inhibition of T-cell expansion by extracellular adenosine-mediated signaling through purinergic receptors. The strong inhibition of the T-cell receptor (TCR)-triggered proliferation and of upregulation of interleukin-2 receptor α chain (CD25) molecules, but not the direct lymphotoxicity, were observed at low concentrations of extracellular adenosine. These effects of extracellular adenosine (Ado) are likely to be mediated by A2a receptor-mediated signaling rather than by intracellular toxicity of adenosine catabolites, because (1) poorly metabolized adenosine analogs cause the accumulation of cAMP and strong inhibition of TCR-triggered CD25 upregulation; (2) the A2a, but not the A1 or A3, receptors are the major expressed and functionally coupled adenosine receptors in mouse peripheral T and B lymphocytes, and the adenosine-induced cAMP accumulation in lymphocytes correlates with the expression of A2a receptors; (3) the specific agonist of A2a receptor, CGS21680, induces increases in [cAMP]i in lymphocytes, whereas the specific antagonist of A2a receptor, CSC, inhibits the effects of Ado and CGS21680; and (4) the increases in [cAMP]i mimic the adenosine-induced inhibition of TCR-triggered CD25 upregulation and splenocyte proliferation. These studies suggest the possible role of adenosine receptors in the regulation of lymphocyte expansion and point to the downregulation of A2a purinergic receptors on T cells as a potentially attractive pharmacologic target.