Adenosine A3 receptor

Adenosine A3 receptor

The Adenosine A3 receptor (pronounced: ad-uh-no-seen ay-three ree-sep-tor) is a subtype of Adenosine receptors, a group of G protein-coupled receptors with adenosine as their endogenous ligand.

Etymology

The term "Adenosine" is derived from the Greek words "adenos" meaning gland, and "ine" a suffix used in chemistry to denote a specific type of compound. The "A3" denotes the third subtype of the Adenosine receptor.

Function

The Adenosine A3 receptor is predominantly found in the brain and liver, and mediates several physiological processes such as inhibition of neutrophil degranulation in neutrophil-mediated tissue injury, ischemic preconditioning, and infusion of the A3 adenosine receptor agonist. It is also involved in the regulation of myocardial oxygen consumption and coronary blood flow.

Related Terms

Adenosine: A nucleoside composed of a molecule of adenine attached to a ribose sugar molecule moiety via a β-N9-glycosidic bond.
G protein-coupled receptor: A large protein family of receptors that sense molecules outside the cell and activate inside signal transduction pathways and, ultimately, cellular responses.
Neutrophil: A type of white blood cell that is one of the first cell types to travel to the site of an infection.
Ischemic preconditioning: A phenomenon where brief periods of sublethal ischemia protect against subsequent, more prolonged, ischemic insults.