Cell Type-specific Localization of Human Cardiac S1P Receptors

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), which derives from the metabolism of sphingomyelin, is mainly synthesized, stored, and released from platelets after activation by physiological and pathophysiological events. S1P acts in cardiovascular tissues through cell surface G-protein-coupled receptors of the endothelial differentiation gene (EDG) family, i.e., EDG1, EDG3 and EDG5. The aim of the present study was to assess the precise distribution of EDG1, EDG3, and EDG5 receptors expressed in human cardiovascular tissues to investigate their respective physiological implication. When assessed by Northern blots, EDG1, EDG3, and EDG5 displayed wide expression levels in decreasing order, respectively. In particular, EDG3 was mainly detected in the aorta. Detailed analysis by in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) revealed strong EDG1 expression in cardiomyocytes and in endothelial cells of cardiac vessels. In cardiomyocytes, the EDG1 receptor is likely to be co-expressed with EDG3 and EDG5, although...