Production of endothelin by cultured porcine endothelial cells: modulation by adrenaline.
Cultured porcine endothelial cells derived from aortas spontaneously released immunoreactive endothelin into the medium in a time-dependent manner. This release was completely inhibited by cycloheximide and is, therefore, directly related to de novo protein synthesis. The endothlin-induced release was further stimulated by adrenaline. Adrenaline-induced stimulation was completely inhibited by the alpha-adrenergic blocker phentolamine and was not inhibited by the beta-adrenergic blocker propranolol. Cycloheximide completely prevented the adrenaline-stimulated as well as the basal release. These results suggest that cultured endothelial cells release endothelin slowly but continuously and that this release can be stimulated by adrenaline via alpha-adrenergic receptors. We speculate that the endothelium generates vasoconstrictor signals through endothelin production, thus contributing to the regulation of vascular tone.
Kohno
M
M
First Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
Murakawa
K
K
Yokokawa
K
K
Yasunari
K
K
Horio
T
T
Kurihara
N
N
Takeda
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016232:Endothelins; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis; D010455:Peptides / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine
D000906:Antibodies; D016232:Endothelins; D010455:Peptides; D004837:Epinephrine