Abstract
The thromboxane A(2) receptor is known for its role in platelet aggregation. In platelets, loss or gain-of-function of the thromboxane A(2) receptor may therefore lead to bleeding disorders or prothrombotic conditions. However, the thromboxane A(2) receptor is also expressed in many other cell types and tissues and is thought to contribute to a broad range of other pathophysiological processes, such as pulmonary hypertension and cancer cell metastasis. In endothelial cells, the thromboxane A(2) receptor is an important player in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction, one of the main contributors to the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis-related diseases. In this review, we provide insight into the genomic structure and expression, protein structure and function of the thromboxane A(2) receptor, with a particular focus on vascular (patho)-physiology and recent findings regarding the involvement of thromboxane A(2) receptor signaling in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. In addition, we provide an overview of clinically relevant polymorphisms within the thromboxane A(2) receptor gene (TBXA2R) and their influence on gene expression, protein structure, and receptor pathophysiology.