Thromboxane A2 Receptor Expression Research Articles

5-Hydroxytryptamine potentiates vasoconstrictor effect of endothelin-1.

Interactions between 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) relative to contraction of rat aortic rings were examined in this study. Pretreatment of rings with threshold concentration of 5-HT potentiated the subsequent contractile response to ET-1. However, pretreatment with threshold concentration of ET-1 did not potentiate the contractile response to 5-HT. The 5-HT receptor antagonist LY 53857 blocked the synergistic contractile effects of 5-HT and ET-1 on rat aortic rings. Indomethacin and the thromboxane A2/endoperoxide receptor antagonist SQ 29548 also attenuated (P less than 0.05) the synergistic contractile effects of 5-HT and ET-1, suggesting release of thromboxane A2 or expression of thromboxane A2 receptors during this interaction. The calcium channel blocker verapamil also decreased the synergistic contractile effects of 5-HT and ET-1. Contraction of aortic rings by 5-HT alone was abolished by LY 53857 and attenuated by verapamil, diltiazem, and SQ 29548. Decrease in the force of contraction by verapamil as well as diltiazem indicates activation of voltage-dependent calcium channels during 5-HT-mediated contraction and perhaps during amplification of the vasoconstrictor activity of ET-1 by 5-HT.

Platelet thromboxane A2 receptors in type I diabetes

1. Human platelet thromboxane A2 receptor expression on the membrane surface is possibly dynamically regulated by changes either in the ligand concentration or in membrane fluidity. An increased thromboxane A2 production and a decreased membrane fluidity has been reported in diabetic patients. 2. In the present study the binding characteristics of platelet thromboxane A2 receptors have been investigated in nine diabetic patients (type I) and in 15 healthy control subjects by a radioligand-binding method using 9,11-dimethylmethane-11,12-methane-16-[3-125I-4-hydroxyphenyl]-13, 14- dihydro-13-aza-15-tetranor-thromboxane A2 as the radiolabelled ligand. 3. The maximum concentration of binding sites was 163 (SD 35) fmol/10(8) platelets (n = 15) with 987 (SD 209) receptors/platelet in controls, whereas in diabetic patients the maximum concentration of binding sites was 74.2 (SD 28) fmol/10(8) (n = 9) with 447 (SD 172) receptors/platelet (P less than 0.001). The dissociation constants were 18 (SD 4) nmol/l and 21 (SD 6) nmol/l (not significant) in control subjects and in diabetic patients, respectively. Glycated haemoglobin, which is reported to reduce membrane fluidity, was found to be negatively correlated (r = 0.60, P less than 0.05) with thromboxane A2 receptor number in the diabetic patient group. On the contrary, a positive linear correlation between the equilibrium dissociation constant and glycated haemoglobin was found in diabetic patients (r = 0.75, P less than 0.01).