Uncovering the Mechanisms of Adenosine Receptor-Mediated Pain Control: Focus on the A3 Receptor Subtype

Agonists of the Gi protein-coupled A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) have shown important pain-relieving properties in preclinical settings of several pain models. Active as a monotherapy against chronic pain, A3AR agonists can also be used in combination with classic opioid analgesics. Their safe pharmacological profile, as shown by clinical trials for other pathologies, i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and fatty liver diseases, confers a realistic translational potential, thus encouraging research studies on the molecular mechanisms underpinning their antinociceptive actions. A number of pathways, involving central and peripheral mechanisms, have been proposed. Recent evidence showed that the prototypical A3AR agonist Cl-IB-MECA and the new, highly selective, A3AR agonist MRS5980 inhibit neuronal (N-type) voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents in dorsal root ganglia, a known pain-related mechanism. Other proposed pathways involve reduced cytokine production, immune cell-mediated responses, as well as reduced microglia and astrocyte activation in the spinal cord. The aim of this review is to summarize up-to-date information on A3AR in the context of pain, including cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this effect. Based on their safety profile shown in clinical trials for other pathologies, A3AR agonists are proposed as novel, promising non-narcotic agents for pain control.