Because A2 adenosine receptor activation stimulates adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP induces 5'-nucleotidase expression in rat mesangial cells, we examined the effect of adenosine and its analogs on 5'-nucleotidase activity in these cells. A2 adenosine receptors were characterized using [3H]5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) as a tracer. There was a single group of receptor sites with a K D value of 0.53 μM and a number of sites of 1,317 fmol/mg. [3H]NECA binding was inhibited preferentially by A2 adenosine analogs and antagonists. Similarly, the order of potency for cAMP stimulation was in favour of A2 adenosine analogs. Rat mesangial cells expressed surface 5'-nucleotidase activity. Exposure of cells for 48 h to adenosine analogs showed that at low concentrations A2 analogs stimulated 5'-nucleotidase activity. These results indicate that adenosine upregulates activity of 5'-nucleotidase, the enzyme responsible for its local formation, via A2 receptor stimulation and increase in cAMP production.
