Dictionary of Allergies .. Adenosine

A preformed mediator of inflammation, which is synthesized

and stored in the cell granules. Adenosine modulates mediator release

from mast cells, basophils and neutrophils and is a potent bronhoconstrictor in asthmatic patients. The observation that the airways contract too much and too easily when stimulated bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is fundamental to our understanding of asthma pathophysiology, and yet the underlying mechanism(s) of BHR remain elusive. Although methacholine and histamine have become gold standards as bronchial provocants to quantify BHR, a further level of complexity has been revealed by using a wide range of different "indirect" stimuli, including adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP), that cause bronchoconstriction through the secondary release of mediators.

References

Holgate ST. Adenosine provocation: a new test for allergic type airway inflammation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002 Feb 1;165(3):327-31.  Comment on: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002 Feb 1;165(3):317-8.