As ATP is a stress signal, we have tested if extracellular catabolism of adenine nucleotides into adenosine (through ecto-5'-nucleotidase or CD73) leads to A<sub>2A</sub> receptor over-activation in PD.
Given PAP's expression in the brain and its role as a cell-growth regulator and tumor suppressor, our results have important implications in brain health such as cancer and other brain diseases including neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease) and mental health (e.g., anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia).