Ecto-5′-Nucleotidase (Cd73)-Mediated Extracellular Adenosine Production Plays a Critical Role in Hepatic Fibrosis

In previous studies, we have demonstrated that adenosine and its receptors play a role in hepatic fibrosis. Here, we review evidence that toxin-induced increases in hepatic adenosine concentrations are generated from adenine nucleotides by the action of ecto-5′nucleotidase and thus that adenosine-mediated, toxin-induced hepatic fibrosis depends on extracellular conversion of adenine nucleotides to adenosine.