Adenosine HPLC

Adenosine is a ubiquitous, biologically important nucleoside which is a
precursor of other biologically active molecules as well as a component of
some co-factors. Moreover, it also has its own distinct physiological
functions in the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the
skeletal muscle and the immune system.
One of the principal intracellular actions of adenosine is inhibition of the
enzyme phosphodiesterase. Extracellular adenosine has specific neuromodulatory
actions on dopamine and glutamate.
Adenosine can act either as a hormone by binding to adenosine receptors or
as an intracellular modulator after its translocation into the cell by
membrane transport proteins. Four adenosine receptor subtypes have been
identified. Notably, adenosine receptors are most widely expressed in the
brain and the cardiovascular system, but they also are found in the most of
the other tissues: respiratory tract, intestine, kidney, skeletal muscle,
pituitary gland, uterus and gonads. Adenosine modulates several
physiological effects by stimulating specific cell surface receptors. In
addition, adenosine acts as an endogenous regulator of immune and
inflammatory processes.
Adenosine exerts multifaceted effects on the heart and blood vessels and is
involved in the regulation of the renal function. It works as a universal
protective agent against hypoxia, ischemia, excitotoxicity, toxicities induced
by other substances and trauma. It is also an effective and safe therapeutic
medicine for paroxysmal tachycardias in adult and pediatric patients, with
basic electrophysiologic properties of slowing conduction in atrioventricular
nodes.
The measurement of urinary adenosine can contribute to evaluation of renal
injury, metabolic disease or severe respiratory failure, as it was found that
unfavorable pathophysiologic conditions are associated with appreciable
elevation of adenosine.