Influence of purines on endothelial high energy phosphates

It was demonstrated that extracellularly available adenosine, which is reported to protect the endothelium during ischaemia and reperfusion [8], is predominantly uptaken and salvaged by HUVECs, thereby enriching the adenine phosphate pool. In this way adenosine could contribute to a regeneration of metabolically disturbed cells via increasing the intracellular ATP. In contrast, all other purines offered can hardly be used by HUVECs to increase the pool of energy rich phosphates.