Occupancy of adenosine A2a receptors promotes fMLP-induced cyclic AMP accumulation in human neutrophils: impact on phospholipase D activity and recruitment of small GTPases to membranes.

The aim of this study was to assess in human neutrophils the implication of an adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent pathway in the inhibitory effects of A2a receptor engagement. We found that Ro20-1724, a cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor, in the presence of adenosine deaminase (ADA) or A2a receptor antagonists rendered transient the fMLP-induced sustained increases in cAMP levels. The role of A2a receptor stimulation was demonstrated by the ability of the A2a receptor agonist, CGS21680, to prevent ADA-mediated reduction of the persistent cAMP elevation induced by fMLP. Persistent cAMP elevation correlated with inhibition of fMLP-induced PLD activation and recruitment of Arf, RhoA, and PKC to membranes. The suppressive effect of CGS21680 or isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist, was increased by Ro20-1724 or by the adenylyl cyclase activator, forskolin, and reversed, at least in part, by the inhibitor of adenylyl cyclase, 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine. The activator of protein kinase A (PKA), Sp-cAMP inhibited fMLP-induced PLD activation and translocation of Arf and RhoA to membranes. In contrast, the suppression by A2a receptor stimulation of fMLP-induced PLD activation and cofactor recruitment was antagonized by PKA inhibitors, Rp-cAMP and H89. In conclusion, A2a receptor occupancy by extracellular adenosine inhibits fMLP-induced neutrophil activation via cAMP and PKA-regulated events.