A novel action for adenosine: apoptosis of astroglial cells in rat brain primary cultures.

2-chloro-adenosine induced apoptosis of astroglial cells in rat brain cultures, as shown by flow cytometry and morphological analysis. The adenosine analogue was far more potent than several previously characterized sugars (including 2-deoxy-D-ribose and D-ribose, the sugar moiety of 2-chloro-adenosine), which trigger apoptosis in a variety of cell-lines [8-10], suggesting that the effects of 2-chloro-adenosine are only partially dictated by its sugar moiety. Nevertheless, 2-chloro-adenosine and 2-deoxy-D-ribose attenuated each other's cell death when used in combination, suggesting the involvement of common intracellular mechanisms. It is suggested that 2-chloro-adenosine may induce apoptosis via a yet-to-be identified adenosine receptor, which may have intriguing implications for both nervous system development and brain response to trauma and ischemia.