Identification of contractile P2Y1, P2Y6, and P2Y12 receptors in rat intrapulmonary artery using selective ligands.

ATP and UDP constrict rat intrapulmonary arteries, but which receptors mediate these actions is unclear. Here, we used selective agonists and antagonists, along with measurements of P2Y receptor expression, to characterize the receptor subtypes involved. Isometric tension was recorded from endothelium-denuded rat intrapulmonary artery rings (i.d. 200-500 µm) mounted on a wire myograph. Expression of P2Y receptor subtype expression was determined by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with receptor-specific oligonucleotide primers. The selective P2Y(1) agonist (N)-methanocarba-2-methylthioadenosine-5'-O-diphosphate (MRS2365) induced small, concentration-dependent contractions that were inhibited by the P2Y(1) antagonist N(6)-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine-3',5'-bisphosphate (MRS2179). Contractions evoked by ATP were unaffected by MRS2179, but inhibited by approximately one-third by the P2Y(12) antagonist N(6)-(2-methylthiomethyl)-2-(3,3,3-trifluoropropylthio)dichloro-methylene ATP (AR-C69931MX). Combined blockade of P2X1 and P2Y(12) receptors virtually abolished the response to ATP. ADP also evoked contractions that were abolished by AR-C69931MX. The selective P2Y(6) receptor agonist 3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-UDP (PSB 0474) evoked concentration-dependent contractions and was approximately three times more potent than UDP, but the P2Y(14) agonist UDP-glucose had no effect. Contractions evoked by UDP were inhibited by the P2Y(6) receptor antagonist N,N'-1,4-butanediylbis-N'-(3-isothiocyanatophenyl)thiourea (MRS2578), but not the cysteinyl leukotriene 1 (CysL(1)) antagonist 3-(3-(2-(7-chloro-2-quinolinyl)ethenyl)phenyl)((3-dimethylamino-3-oxopropyl)thio)methyl)thiopropanoic acid (MK571). Higher concentrations of MRS2578 inhibited contractions to KCl, so they were not studied further. mRNA for P2Y(1), P2Y(6), and P2Y(12) receptors was identified. Our working model is that P2Y(12) and P2X1 receptors are present in rat intrapulmonary arteries and together mediate ATP-induced vasoconstriction. Contractile P2Y(6), but not P2Y(14) or CysLT(1), receptors are also present and are a major site through which UDP evokes constriction.