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Adenosine in fibrosis

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Modern Rheumatology

Abstract

Adenosine is an endogenous autocoid that regulates a multitude of bodily functions. Its anti-inflammatory actions are well known to rheumatologists since it mediates many of the anti-inflammatory effects of a number of antirheumatic drugs such as methotrexate. However, inflammatory and tissue regenerative responses are intricately linked, with wound healing being a prime example. It has only recently been appreciated that adenosine has a key role in tissue regenerative and fibrotic processes. An understanding of these processes may shed new light on potential therapeutic options in diseases such as scleroderma where tissue fibrosis features prominently.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (AR54897 and AR56672), King Pharmaceuticals, the NYU-HHC Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UL1RR029893).

Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Cronstein has patents on the use of adenosine A2A receptor agonists to promote wound healing, the use of adenosine A2A receptor antagonists for the treatment of fibrosis, the use of adenosine A1 receptor antagonists to treat osteoporosis and other bone diseases, the use of adenosine A1 and A2B receptor antagonists to treat fatty liver, and the use of adenosine A2A receptor agonists to treat prosthesis loosening. During the past 2 years Dr. Cronstein has consulted for the following companies(<US $10,000): Cephalon, Cypress Bioscience, Inc., King Pharmaceutical (licensee of patents above), CanFite Biopharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cellzome, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Prometheus Laboratories, Regeneron (Westat, DSMB), Sepracor, Amgen, Endocyte, Protalex, Allos, Inc., Combinatorx, Kyowa Hakka, Hoffman-LaRoche, Savient, and Avidimer Therapeutics. Dr. Cronstein owns equity in CanFite Biopharmaceuticals and has received grants from the National Institutes of Health, King Pharmaceuticals, and the Vilcek Foundation. Dr. Cronstein is on the board of directors of the Vilcek Foundation. Dr. Edwin Chan holds a patent on the use of adenosine A2A receptor antagonists for use in fibrosis.

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  1. Clinical and Translational Science Institute, NYU School of Medicine, 550 First Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Edwin S. L. Chan & Bruce N. Cronstein

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  1. Edwin S. L. Chan
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Correspondence to Bruce N. Cronstein.

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Chan, E.S.L., Cronstein, B.N. Adenosine in fibrosis. Mod Rheumatol 20, 114–122 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10165-009-0251-4

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