Abstract-Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which mediates pleiotropic actions within the vascular system, is a prominent regulator of microvascular tone. By virtue of its S1P-degrading function, we hypothesized that S1P-phosphohydrolase 1 (SPP1) is an important regulator of tone in resistance arteries. Hamster gracilis muscle resistance arteries express mRNA encoding SPP1. Overexpression of SPP1 (via transfection of a SPP1 wt ) reduced resting tone, Ca 2ϩ sensitivity, and myogenic vasoconstriction, whereas reduced SPP1 expression (antisense oligonucleotides) yielded the opposite effects. Expression of a phosphatase-dead mutant of SPP1 (SPP1 H208A ) had no effect on any parameter tested, suggesting that catalytic activity of SPP1 is critical. The enhanced myogenic tone that follows overexpression of S1P-generating enzyme sphingosine kinase 1 (Sk1 wt ) was functionally antagonized by coexpression with SPP1 wt but not SPP1 H208A . SPP1 modulated vasoconstriction in response to 1 to 100 nmol/L exogenous S1P, a concentration range that was characterized as S1P 2 -dependent, based on the effect of S1P 2 inhibition by antisense oligonucleotides and 1 mol/L JTE013. Inhibition of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) (1) restored S1P responses that were attenuated by SPP1 wt overexpression; (2) enhanced myogenic vasoconstriction; but (3) had no effect on noradrenaline responses. We conclude that SPP1 is an endogenous regulator of resistance artery tone that functionally antagonizes the vascular effects of both Sk1 wt and S1P 2 receptor activation. SPP1 accesses extracellular S1P pools in a manner dependent on a functional CFTR transport protein. Our study assigns important roles to both SPP1 and CFTR in the physiological regulation of vascular tone, which influences both tissue perfusion and systemic blood pressure. Key Words: Ca 2ϩ sensitization Ⅲ signal transduction Ⅲ transfection Ⅲ vascular smooth muscle Ⅲ myogenic response Ⅲ cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator T he bioactive sphingolipid metabolite sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a potent regulator of diverse biological processes, acting both as an intracellular second messenger and as an extracellular receptor ligand. Intracellular S1P (ie, second messenger) has been shown to mediate mitogenic/antiapoptotic 1 and Ca 2ϩ -mobilizing responses, 2 although the mechanisms controlling the latter remain undefined. As an extracellular receptor ligand, S1P can activate small GTPases (eg, RhoA and Rac), phospholipase C and adenylate cyclase via five distinct, G protein-coupled S1P receptors (S1P 1-5 ) (formerly known as EDG family receptors 3 ). Growing evidence supports an important role for S1P in the development and homeostasis of the vascular system, 4 -6 in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases, 7 and in the regulation of acute vascular responses. 8 Our laboratory has recently identified the S1P-generating enzyme sphingosine kinase 1 (Sk1) as a vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) signaling component necessary for myogenic vasoconstriction in resistance arter...