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Adenosine Receptor Downregulation

Meaning

Adenosine Receptor Downregulation describes the homeostatic cellular process where the number of adenosine receptors, a class of G protein-coupled receptors, expressed on the cell surface is reduced in response to prolonged or excessive stimulation by adenosine or an agonist. This reduction in receptor density leads to a diminished cellular responsiveness, a form of biological tolerance to the signaling molecule. The phenomenon is a critical modulator of numerous physiological functions, including neural activity, cardiac rhythm, and inflammatory response.