Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Assessment of the Cytotoxic and Immunomodulatory Effects of Substances in Human Precision-cut Lung Slices
Published on: May 9, 2018
The adenosinergic immunomodulatory drugs
1New England Inflammation and Tissue Protection Institute, Northeastern University, 113 Mugar Health Science Building, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States. a.ohta@neu.edu
Abstract:
Hypoxia-driven increase of extracellular adenosine in local tissue microenvironments of inflamed and cancerous tissues plays a critical role in the regulation of tissue destruction by activated immune cells. Accumulated data suggest that injection or consumption of A2A adenosine receptor (A2AR) antagonists may represent a drug treatment that diminishes adenosine-mediated immunosuppression. Since this, in turn, enhances the immune response, inhibition of adenosine-A2AR signaling may be a promising approach to enhance anti-tumor or anti-pathogen immune response. Patients with disorders characterized by excessive inflammation may be at risk to A2AR antagonists (e.g. caffeine) because of the effect to increase inflammatory damage secondary to enhanced immunity. On the other hand, enhancement of hypoxia-adenosinergic immunomodulatory pathways may be beneficial to prevent inflammatory tissue destruction.
Related Concept Videos
FDA Approved Drugs: Changes to Approved Drugs
Bioequivalence of Drugs: Drugs with Multiple Indications
Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Drug Interactions
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Factors Influencing Drug Absorption: Drug Dissolution
Factors Affecting Protein-Drug Binding: Drug-Related Factors
One crucial factor in drug-protein binding is the drug's lipophilicity or its affinity for fat. More lipophilic drugs tend to have higher binding extents. For example, highly lipophilic drugs like cloxacillin exhibit substantial protein binding, with as much as 95% of the drug binding to proteins. In...

