Central Role of P2Y 6 UDP Receptor in Arteriolar Myogenic Tone

Objective— Myogenic tone (MT) of resistance arteries ensures autoregulation of blood flow in organs and relies on the intrinsic property of smooth muscle to contract in response to stretch. Nucleotides released by mechanical strain on cells are responsible for pleiotropic vascular effects, including vasoconstriction. Here, we evaluated the contribution of extracellular nucleotides to MT. Approach and Results— We measured MT and the associated pathway in mouse mesenteric resistance arteries using arteriography for small arteries and molecular biology. Of the P2 receptors in mouse mesenteric resistance arteries, mRNA expression of P2X 1 and P2Y 6 was dominant. P2Y 6 fully sustained UDP/UTP-induced contraction (abrogated in P2ry6 −/− arteries). Preventing nucleotide hydrolysis with the ectonucleotidase inhibitor ARL67156 enhanced pressure-induced MT by 20%, whereas P2Y 6 receptor blockade blunted MT in mouse mesenteric resistance arteries and human subcutaneous arteries. Despite normal hemodynamic parameters, P2ry6 −/− mice were protected against MT elevation in myocardial infarction–induced heart failure. Although both P2Y 6 and P2Y 2 receptors contributed to calcium mobilization, P2Y 6 activation was mandatory for RhoA–GTP binding, myosin light chain, P42–P44, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation in arterial smooth muscle cells. In accordance with the opening of a nucleotide conduit in pressurized arteries, MT was altered by hemichannel pharmacological inhibitors and impaired in Cx43 +/− and P2rx7 −/− mesenteric resistance arteries. Conclusions— Signaling through P2 nucleotide receptors contributes to MT. This mechanism encompasses the release of nucleotides coupled to specific autocrine/paracrine activation of the uracil nucleotide P2Y 6 receptor and may contribute to impaired tissue perfusion in cardiovascular diseases.