Sympathetic vasoconstriction takes an unexpected pannexin detour

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Sympathetic vasoconstriction plays an important role in the control of blood pressure and the distribution of blood flow. In this issue of Science Signaling, Billaud et al. show that sympathetic vasoconstriction occurs through a complex scheme involving the activation of large-pore pannexin 1 channels and the subsequent release of adenosine triphosphate that promotes contraction in an autocrine and paracrine manner. This elaborate mechanism may function as a point of intercept for other signaling pathways-for example, in relation to the phenomenon "functional sympatholysis," in which exercise abrogates sympathetic vasoconstriction in skeletal muscle. Because pannexin 1 channels are inhibited by nitric oxide, they may function as a switch to turn off adrenergic signaling in skeletal muscle during exercise.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberfs4
JournalScience Signaling
Volume8
Issue number364
Pages (from-to)1-2
Number of pages2
ISSN1945-0877
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Feb 2015

ID: 131539236