Abstract: P2 receptors are divided into two subclasses：P2X receptors which are ligand-gated ion channels and P2Y receptors which are G-protein coupled. The several kinds of P2X and P2Y receptor subtypes have been expressed in vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Purinergic signaling plays an important role in vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, cerebral vessels ageing and blood vessel remodeling and makes it possible to provide a new target to treat vascular diseases.

Key words: P2 receptors, vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells