Medicinal chemistry of adenosine A2A receptor agonists

The search for potent and selective A(2A) adenosine receptor agonists has been particularly fruitful in the early nineties. A series of 2-amino, 2-alkoxy, 2-alkythio-, 2-alkynyl-, and 2-alkenyl-derivatives of adenosine (Ado, 1) and N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA, 30) have been synthesized and tested mainly on different model of rat A(1) and A(2A) receptor subtypes. From these studies some ligands, such as CGS 21680 (33), HENECA (42), and (S)-PHPNECA (46b), showed to possess high A(2A) affinity combined with good A(2A) vs A(1) selectivity. More detailed characterization of these ligands at the four cloned human adenosine receptor subtypes revealed that none of the prototypical adenosine receptor agonists exhibits at the same time high affinity and selectivity for the human A(2A)AR subtype. Both NECA and CGS 21680, which are avalaible as radioligands for this subtype, have lower affinity at human than at rat receptor. The 2-alkynylNECA derivatives HENECA an PHPNECA showed high affinity also at human A(3) receptors. In particular, (S)-PHPNECA displayed K(i)s in the low nanomolar range at A(1), A(2A), and A(3)subtypes and an EC(50) of 220 nM at human A(2B) receptor. On the other hand, it is now well known that the coronary vasodilation induced by Ado in different species is mediated by activation of A(2A)AR and a compound capable of producing coronary vasodilation through activation of A(2A)AR, but that is devoid of A(1)- and A(1)-agonist activity would have advantage over Ado for use in myocardial perfusion imaging studies. Other potential therapeutic applications of selective A(2A)AR agonists are as anti-aggregatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-psychotic, and anti-Huntington's disease agents. This review is aimed at presenting a complete overview of the medicinal chemistry development of A(2A) adenosine receptor agonists and at stressing the strong need for more selective ligands at A(2A) human subtype.