Abstract: Provided are liposomes that encapsulate adenosine. The liposomes may be formed from sphingomyelin or a combination of sphingomyelin and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) or a combination of sphingomyelin and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylglycerol (DMPG) or a combination of sphingomyelin, DMPG, and DMPC. The liposomes encapsulating adenosine may be used to induce cartilage regeneration, treat osteoarthritis, alleviate joint pain, and/or slow, arrest, and/or reverse progressive structural tissue damage associated with osteoarthritis or treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute gouty arthritis, and/or synovitis. The liposomes may release adenosine for up to two weeks.

Abstract: Provided are liposomes that encapsulate adenosine. The liposomes may be formed from sphingomyelin or a combination of sphingomyelin and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) or a combination of sphingomyelin and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylglycerol (DMPG) or a combination of sphingomyelin, DMPG, and DMPC. The liposomes encapsulating adenosine may be used to induce cartilage regeneration, treat osteoarthritis, alleviate joint pain, and/or slow, arrest, and/or reverse progressive structural tissue damage associated with osteoarthritis or treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute gouty arthritis, and/or synovitis. The liposomes may release adenosine for up to two weeks.

Abstract: Provided are liposomes that encapsulate adenosine. The liposomes may be formed from sphingomyelin or a combination of sphingomyelin and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) or a combination of sphingomyelin and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylglycerol (DMPG) or a combination of sphingomyelin, DMPG, and DMPC. The liposomes encapsulating adenosine may be used to induce cartilage regeneration, treat osteoarthritis, alleviate joint pain, and/or slow, arrest, and/or reverse progressive structural tissue damage associated with osteoarthritis or treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute gouty arthritis, and/or synovitis. The liposomes may release adenosine for up to two weeks.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for treating or inhibiting the development of osteoarthritis in a subject having osteoarthritis or at risk for developing osteoarthritis and for stimulating or increasing cartilage production or formation in a subject. The methods feature administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising one or more agent from among adenosine, an adenosine receptor agonist, and an agent that upregulates or increases the amount of or the biological activity of adenosine, or an analog or derivative thereof. The adenosine receptor may be an A1, A2A, A2B and A3 adenosine receptor. The agent that upregulates or increases the amount of or the biological activity of adenosine may be dipyridamole or ticagrelor. The composition may be administered via intraarticular injection such as injection into the synovial fluid of a joint.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for treating or inhibiting the development of osteoarthritis in a subject having osteoarthritis or at risk for developing osteoarthritis and for stimulating or increasing cartilage production or formation in a subject. The methods feature administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising one or more agent from among adenosine, an adenosine receptor agonist, and an agent that upregulates or increases the amount of or the biological activity of adenosine, or an analog or derivative thereof. The adenosine receptor may be an A1, A2A, A2B and A3 adenosine receptor. The agent that upregulates or increases the amount of or the biological activity of adenosine may be dipyridamole or ticagrelor. The composition may be administered via intraarticular injection such as injection into the synovial fluid of a joint.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for stimulating or promoting bone regeneration or repairing bone fracture or for stimulating or increasing differentiation or activation of osteoblasts by administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of an adenosine receptor agonist, or an analog, derivative or combination thereof, an adenosine receptor antagonist, or an analog, derivative or combination thereof, or adenosine or a compound that upregulates, increases the amount of or increases the biological activity of adenosine. The invention also extends to pharmaceutical compositions such as those comprising an agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as an adenosine A2A agonist or A1 antagonist.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for treating or inhibiting the development of osteoarthritis in a subject having osteoarthritis or at risk for developing osteoarthritis and for stimulating or increasing cartilage production or formation in a subject. The methods feature administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising one or more agent from among adenosine, an adenosine receptor agonist, and an agent that upregulates or increases the amount of or the biological activity of adenosine, or an analog or derivative thereof. The adenosine receptor may be an A1, A2A, A2B and A3 adenosine receptor. The agent that upregulates or increases the amount of or the biological activity of adenosine may be dipyridamole or ticagrelor. The composition may be administered via intraarticular injection such as injection into the synovial fluid of a joint.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for stimulating or promoting bone generation and regeneration, for stimulating or increasing differentiation, activation or function of osteoblasts, for inhibiting or decreasing differentiation, activation or function of osteoclasts, and for treating bone diseases such as osteonecrosis by administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF) or a pro-brain derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) or an analog, homolog, fragment or derivative thereof. The pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF) or a pro-brain derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) or an analog, homolog, fragment or derivative thereof may be a mutated or poorly hydrolyzed form of proNGF or proBDNF.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for reducing or inhibiting osteolysis, bone resorption, osteoclast differentiation and stimulation and the loosening of medical prostheses by administering a compound or agent that inhibits the biological activity of an axon guidance protein. The compound or agent my inhibit transcription or translation of or bind to an axon guidance protein, such as, for instance, a netrin like netrin-1. Likewise, the compound or agent may inhibit transcription or translation of or bind to a receptor of an axon guidance protein, such as, for instance, a netrin receptor such as unc5b. In some instances, the compound or agent is an agonist of an adenosine A2A receptor. The invention also extends to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and agents.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for reducing or inhibiting osteolysis, bone resorption, osteoclast differentiation and stimulation and the loosening of medical prostheses by administering a compound or agent that inhibits the biological activity of an axon guidance protein. The compound or agent my inhibit transcription or translation of or bind to an axon guidance protein, such as, for instance, a netrin like netrin-1. Likewise, the compound or agent may inhibit transcription or translation of or bind to a receptor of an axon guidance protein, such as, for instance, a netrin receptor such as unc5b. In some instances, the compound or agent is an agonist of an adenosine A2A receptor. The invention also extends to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and agents.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for reducing or inhibiting bone resorption, osteoclast differentiation and stimulation and the loosening of medical prostheses by administering a compound or agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as the adenosine A2A receptor, in particular, an agonist of an adenosine A2A receptor. The invention also extends to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such an agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as an adenosine A2A agonist and to prosthetic devices containing such an agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as an A2A agonist on one or more surfaces or within the prosthetic device such as, for example, suspended in the cement forming the prosthetic device.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for reducing or inhibiting bone resorption, osteoclast differentiation and stimulation and the loosening of medical prostheses by administering a compound or agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as the adenosine A2A receptor, in particular, an agonist of an adenosine A2A receptor. The invention also extends to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such an agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as an adenosine A2A agonist and to prosthetic devices containing such an agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as an A2A agonist on one or more surfaces or within the prosthetic device such as, for example, suspended in the cement forming the prosthetic device.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for reducing or inhibiting bone resorption, osteoclast differentiation and stimulation and the loosening of medical prostheses by administering a compound or agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as the adenosine A2A receptor, in particular, an agonist of an adenosine A2A receptor. The invention also extends to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such an agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as an adenosine A2A agonist and to prosthetic devices containing such an agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as an A2A agonist on one or more surfaces or within the prosthetic device such as, for example, suspended in the cement forming the prosthetic device.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for modulating osteoclastogenesis and for treating bone diseases characterized by bone loss or a decrease in bone mass or density, by administering a compound or agent that modulates the adenosine A1 receptor, in particular, an inhibitor or antagonist of the A1 receptor.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for treating a hepatic disease, for reducing fat deposition in the liver and for inhibiting fibrosis of the liver by administering a compound or agent that modulates an adenosine receptor, in particular, an inhibitor or antagonist of an adenosine receptor, especially an A1 or A2B adenosine receptor antagonist.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for reducing or inhibiting bone resorption, osteoclast differentiation and stimulation and the loosening of medical prostheses by administering a compound or agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as the adenosine A2A receptor, in particular, an agonist of an adenosine A2A receptor. The invention also extends to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such an agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as an adenosine A2A agonist and to prosthetic devices containing such an agent that modulates an adenosine receptor such as an A2A agonist on one or more surfaces or within the prosthetic device such as, for example, suspended in the cement forming the prosthetic device.

Abstract: Hepatic cirrhosis and fibrosis and fatty liver can be prevented and treated by administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of at least one adenosine A2A receptor antagonist or at least one adenosine uptake promotor.

Abstract: Hepatic cirrhosis and fibrosis and fatty liver can be prevented and treated by administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of at least one adenosine A2A receptor antagonist or at least one adenosine uptake promotor.

Abstract: Agonists of the adenosine A.sub.2 receptor promote the migration of endothelial cells, fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Thus, methods and pharmaceutical compositions useful for treating wounds and promoting wound healing comprise agents which cause stimulation of the adenosine A.sub.2 receptor, preferably receptor agonists and adenosine uptake blockers. Preferred agonists include 2-phenylaminoadenosine, 2-para-2-carboxyethylphenyl-amino-5'N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, 5'N-ethylcarbox-amidoadenosine, 5'N-cyclo-propyladenosine, 5'N-methylcarboxamidoadenosine and PD-125944. Preferred uptake blockers include dipyridamole, nitrobenzylthio-inosine, dilazep and R75231.

Abstract: Agonists of the adenosine A.sub.2 receptor promote the migration of endothelial cells, fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Thus, methods and pharmaceutical compositions useful for treating wounds and promoting wound healing comprise agents which cause stimulation of the adenosine A.sub.2 receptor, preferably receptor agonists and adenosine uptake blockers. Preferred agonists include 2-phenylaminoadenosine, 2-para-2-carboxyethylphenyl-amino-5'N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, 5'N-ethylcarbox-amidoadenosine, 5'N-cyclopropyladenosine, 5'N-methyl-carboxamidoadenosine and PD-125944. Preferred uptake blockers include dipyridamole, nitrobenzylthio-inosine, dilazep and R75231.