Role of Cardiac A Receptors Under Normal and Pathophysiological Conditions.

This review presents an overview of cardiac A-adenosine receptors The localization of A-AR in the various cell types that encompass the heart and the role they play in force regulation in various mammalian species are depicted. The putative signal transduction systems of A-AR in cells in the living heart, as well as the known interactions of A-AR with membrane-bound receptors, will be addressed. The possible role that the receptors play in some relevant cardiac pathologies, such as persistent or transient ischemia, hypoxia, sepsis, hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and arrhythmias, will be reviewed. Moreover, the cardiac utility of A-AR as therapeutic targets for agonistic and antagonistic drugs will be discussed. Gaps in our knowledge about the cardiac function of A-AR and future research needs will be identified and formulated.