Adenosine Receptor

Adenosine receptors (ARs) comprise a group of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) which mediate the physiological actions of adenosine. To date, four AR subtypes have been cloned and identified in different tissues. These receptors have distinct localization, signal transduction pathways and different means of regulation upon exposure to agonists. A key property of some of Adenosine receptors is their ability to serve as sensors of cellular oxidative stress, which is transmitted by transcription factors, such as NF-κB, to regulate the expression of ARs. The importance of Adenosine receptors in the regulation of normal and pathological processes such as sleep, the development of cancers and in protection against hearing loss will be examined.