Fan, Ming, Weixi Qin, and S. Jamal Mustafa. Characterization of adenosine receptor(s) involved in adenosine-induced bronchoconstriction in an allergic mouse model. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 284: L1012-L1019, 2003. First published January 17, 2003 10.1152/ajplung.00353.2002We recently reported that adenosine caused bronchoconstriction and enhanced airway inflammation in an allergic mouse model. In this study, we further report the characterization of the subtype of adenosine receptor(s) involved in bronchoconstriction. 5Ј-(N-ethylcarboxamido)adenosine (NECA), a nonselective adenosine agonist, elicited bronchoconstriction in a dose-dependent manner. Little effects of N 6 -cyclopentyladenosine (A1-selective agonist) and 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5Ј-Nethylcarboxamidoadenosine (A2A-selective agonist) compared with NECA were observed in this model. 2-Chloro-N 6 -(3-iodobenzyl)-9-[5-(methylcarbamoyl)--D-ribofuranosyl]adenosine, an A3-selective receptor agonist, produced a dose-dependent bronchoconstrictor response, which was blocked by selective A3 antagonist 2,3-diethyl-4,5-dipropyl-6-phenylpyridine-3-thiocarboxylate-5-carboxylate (MRS1523). However, MRS1523 only partially inhibited NECA-induced bronchoconstriction. Neither selective A1 nor A2A antagonists affected NECA-induced bronchoconstriction. Enprofylline, a relatively selective A2B receptor antagonist, blocked partly NECA-induced bronchoconstriction. Furthermore, a combination of enprofylline and MRS1523 completely abolished NECA-induced bronchoconstrictor response. Using RT-PCR, we found that all four adenosine receptor subtypes are expressed in control lungs. Allergen sensitization and challenge significantly increased transcript levels of the A2B and A3 receptors, whereas the A1 receptor message decreased. No change in transcript levels of A2A receptors was observed after allergen sensitization and challenge. These findings suggest that A2B and A3 adenosine receptors play an important role in adenosine-induced bronchoconstriction in our allergic mouse model. Finally, whether the airway effects of the receptor agonists/antagonists are direct or indirect needs further investigations. adenosine agonists; adenosine antagonists; mouse lung; asthma AMONG THE MANY ACTIONS of adenosine, several lines of evidence suggest a contribution of adenosine to the pathophysiology of asthma. Adenosine is present in high concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatics (8). Airway preparations from allergic asthmatic subjects are more sensitive to the contractile responses of adenosine and related analogs (4). Inhaled adenosine causes bronchoconstriction in asthmatics and allergic nonasthmatics compared with normal subjects (24).The response of the asthmatic airways to adenosine involves the activation of extracellular adenosine receptor(s). Theophylline, a nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist, selectively (relative to histamine) inhibited adenosine-induced bronchoconstriction at doses generating plasma concentrations that are insuffic...