Methods and compositions for the regulation of vasoconstriction

A method for decreasing arterial blood flow in a subject who would benefit from decreased arterial blood flow, comprising:

• administering to a subject in need of such treatment an agent that up-regulates EDG receptor signaling in an amount effective to decrease arterial blood flow.

A method for inducing vasoconstriction in a subject who would benefit from induced vasoconstriction, comprising:

• administering to a subject in need of such treatment an agent that up-regulates EDG receptor signaling in an amount effective to induce vasoconstriction.

A method for treating a subject having, or at risk of having, a disorder which can be treated by increased vasodilation or inhibition of vasoconstriction, comprising:

• administering to a subject in need of such treatment an agent that down-regulates EDG receptor signaling in an amount effective to treat the disorder.

A method for increasing arterial blood flow in a subject who would benefit from increased arterial blood flow, comprising:

• administering to a subject in need of such treatment an agent that down-regulates EDG receptor signaling in an amount effective to increase arterial blood flow.

A method for inhibiting vasoconstriction in a subject who would benefit from inhibited vasoconstriction, comprising:

• administering to a subject in need of such treatment an agent that down-regulates EDG receptor signaling in an amount effective to inhibit vasoconstriction.

A method for identifying an agent that regulates vasoconstriction, comprising:

• selecting an agent that binds to sphingosine kinase, and
• determining whether the agent that binds to sphingosine kinase modulates vasoconstriction,
• wherein a change in vasoconstriction in the presence of the agent is indicative of an agent that regulates vasoconstriction.

A method for identifying an agent that regulates vasoconstriction comprising:

• selecting an agent that binds to an EDG receptor, and
• determining if the agent that binds to the EDG receptor modulates vasoconstriction
• wherein a change in vasoconstriction in the presence of the agent is indicative of an agent that regulates vasoconstriction.

A method for identifying an agent that regulates vasoconstriction comprising:

• selecting an agent that binds to a sphingosine-1-phosphate phosphatase, and
• determining if the agent that binds to a sphingosine-1-phosphate phosphatase modulates vasoconstriction
• wherein a change in vasoconstriction in the presence of the agent is indicative of an agent that regulates vasoconstriction.

A pharmaceutical preparation comprising

• an agent that up-regulates EDG receptor signaling in an effective amount to treat a disorder which can be treated by increased vasoconstriction or inhibition of vasodilation, and
• a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.

A pharmaceutical preparation comprising

• an agent that down-regulates EDG receptor signaling in an effective amount to treat a disorder which can be treated by increased vasodilation or inhibition of vasoconstriction, and
• a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.