ADP receptor P2Y12 is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells and stimulates contraction in human blood vessels.
OBJECTIVE
ADP plays an important role in platelet aggregation by activating P2Y12 receptors. We assessed the hypothesis that P2Y12 receptors are expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC).


RESULTS
P2Y12 receptor mRNA was found to have a high expression among the P2 receptors in human VSMC, significantly higher than the other 2 ADP receptors (P2Y1 and P2Y13, real-time polymerase chain reaction). Western blots gave a band of 50 kD, similar to that in platelets. To unmask a P2Y12 receptor-mediated vasoconstriction by simulating the in vivo situation, vessels were precontracted to a submaximal level. 2-MeSADP stimulated contractions in vessel segments from internal mammary artery (IM), IM branches and small veins (Emax=15+/-6% of 60 mmol/L K+ contraction, pEC50=5.6+/-0.6, Emax=21+/-1%, pEC50=6.8+/-0.1, and Emax=48+/-9%, pEC50=6.6+/-0.4). The selective P2Y12 antagonist AR-C67085 blocked 2-MeSADP contractions. The contraction was not reduced in patients using clopidogrel, a drug inhibiting ADP-induced platelet aggregation by blocking the P2Y12 receptor. This may be explained by the high instability of the active clopidogrel metabolite that never reaches the systemic circulation.


CONCLUSIONS
ADP acting on P2Y12 receptors not only is important for platelet activation but also stimulates vasoconstriction. Stable drugs with antagonistic effects on P2Y12 receptors, affecting both platelets and VSMC, could be of double therapeutic benefit in their prevention of both thrombosis and vasospasm.
Wihlborg
Anna-Karin
AK
Department of Cardiology, Lund University Hospital, S-221 85 Lund, Sweden.
Wang
Lingwei
L
Braun
Oscar Ostberg
OO
Eyjolfsson
Atli
A
Gustafsson
Ronny
R
Gudbjartsson
Tomas
T
Erlinge
David
D
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D058925:Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology*; D014680:Veins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D008565:Membrane Proteins; C548576:P2RY12 protein, human; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058925:Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate