P2Y purinoceptors as potential emerging therapeutical target in vascular disease

In the last two decades a tremendous development has been noticed in our understanding of the purinergic system, consisting of heterogeneously expressed purinoceptor subtypes and its classical agonists: e.g., adenosine triphosphate, uridine triphosphate or complex dinucleoside polyphosphates. These agonists exert multiple effects on the vascular system: they regulate the relaxation and constriction of arterial blood vessels, lead to proliferation and migration in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, and mediate potent proinflammatory responses or phenotypic cell changes. This review focuses on the P2 purinoceptor subtype P2Y and its pleiotropic effects in the vascular wall under physiological and pathophysiological condition. Various experimental and clinical studies provide evidence that pharmacological targeting of P2Y might be effective in reducing vascular alterations under disease conditions.