Adenosine is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that modulates the function of cells involved in the inflammatory response. Here we show that it inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced formation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in both freshly isolated and cultured human monocytes. Blocking of adenosine uptake and inactivation of the adenosine-degrading enzyme adenosine deaminase enhanced the inhibitory action of adenosine, indicating that both pathways regulate the extracellular adenosine concentration. Adenosine-mediated inhibition could be reversed by XAC (xanthine amine congener), an antagonist of the adenosine receptor A(2A), and MRS 1220 [N-9-chloro-2-(2-furanyl)[1, 2, 4]-triazolo[1,5-c]quinazolin-5-benzeneacetamide], an A(3) receptor antagonist, in both cell populations, while DPCPX (1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine), an A(1) receptor antagonist, had no effect. Similar to what was seen with adenosine, CGS 21680, an A(2A) and A(3) receptor agonist, and IB-MECA, a nonselective A(1) and A(3) receptor agonist, dose dependently prevented ROI formation, indicating the involvement of A(3) and probably also A(2A) in the suppressive effect of adenosine. Pretreatment of monocytes with adenosine did not lead to changes in the LPS-induced increase in intracellular calcium levels ([Ca(2+)](i)). Thus, participation of [Ca(2+)](i) in the action of adenosine seems unlikely. The adenosine-mediated suppression of ROI production was found to be more pronounced when monocytes were cultured for 18 h, a time point at which changes in the mRNA expression of adenosine receptors were observed. Most prominent was the increase in the A(2A) receptor mRNA. These data demonstrate that cultivation of monocytes is accompanied by changes in the inhibitory action of adenosine mediated by A(3) and probably also the A(2A) receptor and that regulation of adenosine receptors is an integral part of the monocyte differentiation program.