Adenosine A2A receptor as potential therapeutic target in neuropsychiatric disorders

Adenosine A(2A) receptor (A(2A)R) is a G-protein coupled receptor that regulates several important functions in the central nervous system. Large amount of preclinical data suggests that the A(2A)R could represent a target for the development of new therapeutic strategies for different neuropsychiatric conditions. In this review we will recapitulate and discuss the most relevant studies on the role of A(2A)Rs in neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases, which led to suggest a therapeutic use of A(2A)R agonists in certain diseases (Niemann-Pick disease, autism-spectrum disorders, schizophrenia) and A(2A)R antagonists in others (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, fragile X syndrome, depression, anxiety). Moreover, we will try to analyze which are the main obstacles to the conduction of clinical trials with A(2A)R ligands for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disease.