NPY, ET-1, and Ang II nuclear receptors in human endocardial endothelial cells.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and angiotensin II (Ang II) are peptides that are known to play many important roles in cardiovascular homeostasis. The physiological actions of these peptides are thought to be primarily mediated by plasma membrane receptors that belong to the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily. However, there is increasing evidence that suggests the existence of functional G-protein-coupled receptors at the level of the nucleus and that the nucleus could be a cell within a cell. Here, we review our work showing the presence in the nucleus of the NPY Y1 receptor, the ETA and ETB receptors, as well as the AT1 and AT2 receptors and their respective ligands. This work was carried out in 20-week-old fetal human endocardial endothelial cells. Our results demonstrate that nuclear Y1, AT1, and ETA receptors modulate nuclear calcium in these cells.