Activation of adenosine A2A receptor reduces osteoclast formation via PKA- and ERK1/2-mediated suppression of NFκB nuclear translocation

Background and Purpose We previously reported that adenosine, acting at adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR), inhibits osteoclast (OC) differentiation in vitro (A2AR activation OC formation reduces by half) and in vivo. For a better understanding how adenosine A2AR stimulation regulates OC differentiation, we dissected the signalling pathways involved in A2AR signalling. Experimental Approach OC differentiation was studied as TRAP+ multinucleated cells following M-CSF/RANKL stimulation of either primary murine bone marrow cells or the murine macrophage line, RAW264.7, in presence/absence of the A2AR agonist CGS21680, the A2AR antagonist ZM241385, PKA activators (8-Cl-cAMP 100nM, 6-Bnz-cAMP) and the PKA inhibitor (PKI). cAMP was quantitated by EIA and PKA activity assays were carried out. Signalling events were studied in PKA knockdown (lentiviral shRNA for PKA) RAW264.7 cells (scrambled shRNA as control). OC marker expression was studied by RT-PCR. Key Results A2AR stimulation increased cAMP and PKA activity which and were reversed by addition of ZM241385. The direct PKA stimuli 8-Cl-cAMP and 6-Bnz-cAMP inhibited OC maturation whereas PKI increased OC differentiation. A2AR stimulation inhibited p50/p105 NFB nuclear translocation in control but not in PKA KO cells. A2AR stimulation activated ERK1/2 by a PKA-dependent mechanism, an effect reversed by ZM241385, but not p38 and JNK activation. A2AR stimulation inhibited OC expression of differentiation markers by a PKA-mechanism. Conclusions and Implications A2AR activation inhibits OC differentiation and regulates bone turnover via PKA-dependent inhibition of NFB nuclear translocation, suggesting a mechanism by which adenosine could target bone destruction in inflammatory diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis.