Progress in research of adenosine and its biological products in ophthalmology / 中华实验眼科杂志

ABSTRACT

Adenosine is an important biological substance in the body. It exists extensively in intracellular and extracellular tissues. In physiological condition, adenosine remains at very low level intissue. However, under stress such as inflammation, ischemia, hypoxia, trauma, or pain etc. the adenosine concentrationwill be elevated dramatically,indicating that adenosine participates in multiple histopathological processes. Adenosine is a natural chemical messenger that binds to four subtypes( A1, A2A, A2B, A3 ) of adenosine receptors and by that, it regulates multiple kinds of physiological functions. Studies found that adenosine plays an important role in the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and coagulation system. In recent years, adenosine has been seen as an attractive option to improve the treatment of glaucoma and retinal diseases. The effects of adenosine in ophthalmology were as follows adjusting intraocular pressure, inhibiting retinal angiogenesis, dilating retinal blood vessels, regulating retinal nerve conduction, protecting retinal photoreceptors and ganglion cells, arresting the inflammatory response. This article discusses the research progress in adenosine and its receptors as well as biological products of adenosine and projects the application of adenosine in ophthalmology.