Pflügers Archiv : European journal of physiology
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Lysophospholipids are known to serve as intra- and extracellular messengers affecting many physiological processes. Lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), which is produced in endothelial cells, acts as an endogenous agonist of the orphan receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55). Stimulation of GPR55 by LPI evokes an intracellular Ca(2+) rise in several cell types including endothelial cells. ⋯ In contrast, LPI counteracted membrane hyperpolarization in response to supramaximal cell stimulation with histamine. These results highlight a novel receptor-independent and direct bidirectional modulation of BK(Ca) channels by LPI on endothelial cells. We conclude that LPI via this mechanism serves as an important modulator of endothelial electrical responses to cell stimulation.