Since the 1970s, when ATP was identified as a co-transmitter in sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, it and its active metabolite adenosine have been considered relevant signaling molecules in biological and pathological processes in the central nervous system (CNS). Meanwhile, inosine, a naturally occurring purine nucleoside formed by adenosine breakdown, was considered an inert adenosine metabolite and remained a neglected actor on the purinergic signaling scene in the CNS. However, this scenario began to change in the 1980s. In the last four decades, an extensive group of shreds of evidence has supported the importance of mediated effects by inosine in the CNS. Also, inosine was identified as a natural trigger of adenosine receptors. This evidence has shed light on the therapeutic potential of inosine on disease processes involved in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Here, we highlight the clinical and preclinical studies investigating the involvement of inosine in chronic pain, schizophrenia, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, and in neural regeneration and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson and Alzheimer. Thus, we hope that this review will strengthen the knowledge and stimulate more studies about the effects promoted by inosine in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

中文翻译：

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肌苷作为理解和治疗中枢神经系统疾病的工具：一个被忽视的演员？

自 1970 年代以来，当 ATP 被确定为交感神经和副交感神经中的共递质时，它及其活性代谢物腺苷被认为是中枢神经系统 (CNS) 生物和病理过程中的相关信号分子。同时，肌苷是一种由腺苷分解形成的天然嘌呤核苷，被认为是一种惰性腺苷代谢物，并且在中枢神经系统的嘌呤能信号传导场景中仍然是一个被忽视的角色。然而，这种情况在 1980 年代开始发生变化。在过去的四年中，大量证据支持肌苷介导的作用在 CNS 中的重要性。此外，肌苷被确定为腺苷受体的天然触发器。这一证据阐明了肌苷对涉及神经和精神疾病的疾病过程的治疗潜力。在这里，我们重点介绍了肌苷参与慢性疼痛、精神分裂症、癫痫、抑郁、焦虑以及神经再生和神经退行性疾病（如帕金森和阿尔茨海默病）的临床和临床前研究。因此，我们希望这篇综述能加强知识并激发更多关于肌苷在神经和精神疾病中促进作用的研究。