Abstract

A₃ adenosine receptors (ARs) have long been viewed as potential therapeutic targets due to their association with a variety of pathophysiological processes. Development of potent and selective A₃AR nucleoside ligands has been an area of interest of medicinal chemists since last two decades. Various prime modifications made on N6 and C-2 position of the adenosine moiety has led to the discovery of some of the most efficacious A₃AR ligands. This review is an account of the development of 4'-thionucleosides as A₃AR agonists and antagonists by various chemical modifications on the thionucleoside template.

Keywords: A₃ adenosine receptor, agonist, antagonist, 4’-thionucleoside, structure-activity relationship.