Adenosine A_2A receptor as potential therapeutic target in neuropsychiatric disorders

Adenosine A_2A receptor (A_2AR) 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_2AR 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_2ARs in neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases, which led to suggest a therapeutic use of A_2AR agonists in certain diseases (Niemann-Pick disease, autism-spectrum disorders, schizophrenia) and A_2AR 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_2AR ligands for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disease.