Adenosine A2A-D2 receptor-receptor interactions in putative heteromers in the regulation of the striato-pallidal gaba pathway: possible relevance for parkinson's disease and its treatment

Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2014;15(7):673-80. doi: 10.2174/1389203715666140901103205.

Abstract

Striatal dopamine adenosine A2A and D2 receptors interact to modulate some aspects of motor and motivational function. The demonstration of A2A/D2 receptor heteromerization in living cells constituted a progress for understanding the neurobiology of dopamine D2 and adenosine A2A receptors. In fact, the existence of putative striatalA2A/D2 receptor heteromers has been suggested to be important for striatal function under both normal and pathological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease. Consequently, the antagonistic A2A-D2 receptor interactions in a putative striatal receptor heteromer on striato-pallidal GABA neuron led to the introduction of A2A receptor antagonists as possible anti- Parkinsonian drugs. The present mini-review briefly summarizes the main findings supporting the presence of antagonistic A2A-D2 receptor interactions in putative receptor heteromers in the basal ganglia. Special emphasis is given to in vivo microdialysis findings demonstrating the functional role putative A2A/D2 heteromers on striato-pallidal GABA neurons play in the modulation of this pathway, in which A2A receptors inhibit D2 receptor signaling. The possible relevance of compounds targeting the putative striatal A2A/D2 heteromer in the Parkinson's disease pharmacological treatment is also discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antiparkinson Agents / pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism*
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A / chemistry
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / chemistry
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists
  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid