Methotrexate prevents wear particle-induced inflammatory osteolysis via activation of the adenosine A2A receptor

Objective Adenosine, acting at A2AR, mediates the anti-inflammatory effects of methotrexate (MTX) in models of inflammation. We have previously reported that A2AR ligation diminishes wear particle-driven osteolysis and therefore asked whether MTX treatment could prevent bone resorption due to inflammatory osteolysis.