ABSTRACT P2 receptors, where ATP is the main endogenous agonist, are widely distributed in human tissues and deserve significant interest as potential drug targets. Based primarily on our own results, in this review we discuss some possible directions for such drug development. We have suggested that P2 receptors are upregulated in human uterus during pregnancy and involved in physiological labor, while low concentration of ATP can potentiate the uterotonic activity of prostaglandins in labor. Cardiodepressant activity of ATP is more pronounced at low temperature, which draws attention to drug action (and interaction) during hypothermic cardiac surgery. P2 receptor-mediated vasoconstrictive effect is decreased in varicose veins, which opens up a promising field for development of new venotonic drugs.
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