Caffeine

Caffeine has been used as a radiosensitizing agent utilized for studying its impact in inhibiting the catalytic activity of ATM and ATR Kinase. CTGF is an important modulator protein of fibrogenic TGF-β. Hence, this product has also been used for examining the caffeine-dependent regulation of CTGF expression in rat hepatocytes.

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, adenosine receptor antagonist as well as adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterase inhibitor. It stimulates the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺-release channel which facilitates the excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle. It has also been reported to affect cellular calcium levels, releasing calcium from intracellular stores. Caffeine overrides the cell cycle effects of various chemicals such as protease inhibitors, preventing apoptosis; and it has been shown to inhibit cellular DNA repair mechanisms.