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Activation of adenosine A1 receptor–induced neural stem cell proliferation via MEK/ERK and Akt signaling pathways

Adenosine, a modulator of neuronal function in the mammalian central nervous system, exerts a neuroprotective effect via the adenosine A1 receptor; however, its effect on neural stem cells (NSCs) remains unclear. Because adenosine is released in response to pathological conditions and NSCs play a key role in neuroregeneration, we tested the hypothesis that adenosine is capable of stimulating NSC proliferation. We demonstrated that NSCs dominantly express adenosine A1 and A2B receptors. Adenosine and the adenosine A1 receptor agonist cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) increased proliferation of NSCs, and this CPA‐induced cell proliferation was attenuated by the A1 antagonist 8‐cyclopentyl‐1,3‐dipropylxanthine (DPCPA). CPA also induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK), mitogen‐activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK), and Akt, and their phosphorylation was inhibited by DPCPA. In addition, CPA‐induced cell proliferation was inhibited by MEK and Akt inhibitors. These results suggest that activation of adenosine A1 receptor–stimulated proliferation of NSCs occurs via MEK/ERK and Akt signaling pathways. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.