Intracellular adenosine released from THP-1 differentiated human macrophages is involved in an autocrine control of Leishmania parasitic burden, mediated by adenosine A2A and A2B receptors

Leishmania infected macrophages have conditions to produce adenosine. Despite its known immunosuppressive effects, no studies have yet established whether adenosine alter Leishmania parasitic burden upon macrophage infection. This work aimed at investigating whether endogenous adenosine exerts an autocrine modulation of macrophage response towards Leishmania infection, identifying its origin and potential pharmacological targets for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), using THP-1 differentiated macrophages. Adenosine deaminase treatment of infected THP-1 cells reduced the parasitic burden (29.1 ± 2.2%, P