A2A receptor agonist, CGS21680, inhibits inflammation and increases FGF-2 tissue expression in carrageenan induced rat paw edema

Adenosine A2A receptor has been described to be antinflammatory in several models of acute and chronic inflammation. Furthermore, the same receptor is also involved in adenosine-mediated wound healing in vivo; in vitro, in primary human dermal fibroblasts, there is evidence that A2A receptor mediates the collagen-inducing effect of adenosine. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is a growth factor playing a role in tissue proliferation, wound healing and also in inflammation. High levels of FGF-2 have been found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) from asthmatic subjects; moreover, in a murine model of asthma, recombinant FGF-2 has been shown to reduce airway responsiveness; furthermore, FGF-2 has also been shown to reduce acute inflammation. In the present study we have investigated on the possible involvement of FGF-2 in the antinflammatory effect of the A2A agonist, CGS21680.