Background. Adenosine, a potent regulator of inflammation, is produced under stressful conditions due to degradation of ATP/ADP by the ectoenzymes CD39 and CD73. Adenosine is rapidly degraded by adenosine deaminase (ADA) or phosphorylated in the cell by adenosine kinase (AK). From four known receptors to adenosine, A 1 (A 1 R) promotes inflammation by a G i -coupled receptor. We have previously shown that A 1 R is up-regulated in the first hours following bacterial inoculation. The aim of the current study is to characterize the inflammatory mediators that regulate adenosine-metabolizing enzymes and A 1 R at the onset of peritonitis. Methods. Peritonitis was induced in CD1 mice by intraperitoneal injection of Escherichia coli. TNFα and IL-6 levels were determined in peritoneal fluid by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Adenosine-metabolizing enzymes and the A 1 R mRNA or protein levels were analyzed by quantitative PCR or by Western blot analysis, respectively. Results. We found that CD39 and CD73 were up-regulated in response to bacterial stimuli (6-fold the basal levels), while AK and ADA mRNA levels were down-regulated. Cytokine production and leukocyte recruitment were enhanced (2.5-fold) by treatment with an A 1 R agonist (2-chloro-N 6 -cyclopentyladenosine, 0.1mg/kg) and reduced (2.5-3-fold) by the A 1 R antagonist (8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine, 1mg/kg). In contrast to lipopolysaccharide, IL-1, TNF and IFNγ, only low IL-6 levels (0.01 ng/ml), in the presence of its soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R), were found to promote A 1 R expression on mesothelial cells. In mice, administration of neutralizing antibody to IL-6R or soluble gp130-Fc (sgp130-Fc) blocked peritoneal A 1 R up-regulation following inoculation. Conclusion. Bacterial products induce the production of adenosine by up-regulation of CD39 and CD73. Low IL-6-sIL-6R up-regulates the A 1 R to promote efficient inflammatory response against invading microorganisms.